The oky’s Podcast

September 14 - doctrine of healing
 
Let me start today by reading Isaiah 53:4-5
 
Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. 
 
These are the words of Isaiah the prophet. Theologians and scholars look to Isaiah as a bridge between the Old Testament and the promise of the Messiah. Through a close study of Isaiah, you will find that the person of Jesus is laid out with an understanding of his divinity, through the most comprehensive Old Testament prophecies that we have. Isaiah was studied by scholars of old and theologians of today. But Jesus himself also quoted Isaiah when talking about the fulfillment of prophecy through his own life. Luke 4 Jesus went on the Sabbath to the synagogue and stood up to read. He was handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah and he unrolled it and read this passage of scripture, 
 
The spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. 
 
Luke continues
 
Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” 
 
So even Jesus used the words of Isaiah to prove the authenticity of his messiahship. It was doctrine to the Jewish people, and even today we look to it in order to understand Jesus better. 
 
Ok, keep that in mind as we read Matthew 8:14-17
 
When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him. When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: 
 
“He took up our infirmities
And bore our diseases.” 
 
Ok, Matthew here joins in with quoting Isaiah. This is a reference to the section we read at the beginning with Isaiah 53:4. 
 
Why is this significant? 
 
What did it say Jesus drove out spirits and healed with? Look back at vs. 16
 
When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. 
 
With a what? 
 
A WORD. 
 
What does that man? 
 
Well the word ‘word’ here in the original Greek is Logos. In this context, the word Logos means, sound teaching, doctrine.
 
This is why Matthew quotes from Isaiah here. He believed it to be sound teaching, or doctrine, that Jesus would heal. He has the authority and power to heal, and it is his desire and mission to heal. Not just spiritually. Though this is the most significant part of our healing, Jesus also came to bear our sicknesses. So he brought his theological teaching against the impure spirits and sicknesses. 
 
The point, 
 
Jesus desires to heal our physical bodies. This isn’t just a spiritual endeavor. He desires wholeness for our bodies as well. So he was able to come in and simply lay a hand on Peter’s mother-in-law, and  he spoke the word of life over the impure spirits and the sick.
 
This is something that he desires in each of us today. 
 
Jesus wants you physical healing, and he wants you to carry the power to see others healed as well. Not only that, Jesus came to fulfill every single word of prophecy that was spoken about him. He has fulfilled over 2/3s of the prophecies already spoken, and he will fulfill the rest one day when he comes back in the end. 
 
So you can trust him! 
 
Wrestle with that a little. Find out what things Isaiah says about Jesus, and begin to believe that he will do those things! Jesus came not just as a spiritual being, but as an answer to a theological understanding. He can be trusted, and he will fulfill his promises. 
 
Here is a quick practice for today. 
 
What things do you doubt about Jesus? What things do you wonder if he will really do? 
 
Begin to write those things out. Yes, Journal. Because as he answers them, you will be able to check them off your list, and you will build your faith. And as you do, you will understand what you believe and why you believe it to be true. But until tomorrow, I love you, and may God bless you! 

September 9 - False Prophets
 
Ok, yesterday we talked about the fruit of a person. And of course, being here in the sermon on the mount, you remember where the fruit of a person is birthed, right?
 
Of course, The Beatitudes. 
 
When we practice the beatitudes, we grow fruit that leads to a healthy demonstration of God’s grace and mercy. We need to be people that not only talk the talk, but are able to walk the walk by living out God’s grace and mercy. 
 
You should judge the people in your life who say they follow Christ, and decide if they are worth following or not. I have to be honest with you, I’ve been around way to many Christians, who watch things I would never consider watching, say words I would never expect a Christ follower to say, and do things that are so far beyond what I hope for God’s people. 
 
This isn’t me being ‘holier than thou. . . .’ This is just me understanding how easy it is to be a false prophet. . . . 
 
Wait. . . You thought I was just talking about people who say one thing, but live a different way. Isn’t that just a hypocrite? 
 
No actually. It’s not a hypocrite. It’s a false prophet. Why? Because it allows people who follow you to think they can act one way while saying they follow a different way. So it leads people astray. When your commitment to the Lord, and your confession to follow him don’t align with your actions - you are a false prophet. 
 
Don’t blame me for saying this. . . Jesus is the one who actually said it. . . listen to what he continues to say in Mathew 7:15-20
 
Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. 
 
See what Jesus did? He started by saying to watch out for false prophets. Then he explained how you can tell them. They say one thing, but their fruit demonstrates something else. 
 
For those of us in leadership. . . This is an extra warning for us!
 
We are the ones watched the closest. When we say we care for people and then demonstrate that we actually only care about ourselves, we are being false prophets. When we say we would do anything to shepherd and help people out, but are no where to be found when someone is in trouble. . . We are false prophets. . . 
 
I know an awful lot of false prophets in the Christian Church. 
 
My prayer, is that I would always be true to my words and do what I say. I want my actions to bear the fruit of a heart that is dedicated to living out the ways of Jesus. So for that reason, I will continue to study and practice the beatitudes, that I might become the person God designed me to be. 
And as for you, 
 
Keep judging the people you follow. Make sure their words are right, but also make sure their actions back up the talk.. this gives them the credibility and understanding to fully preach the things they talk about. And they can help lead you to a place where you grow and become a full apprentice of Jesus. 
 
Then wrestle with this. . 
 
How well do you live out what you say you believe? 
 
Maybe take a moment, and write down what you would expect from someone who says they follow Jesus. What would you want a leader in the pursuit of Jesus to look, act, and talk like. Then evaluate your own life. How much of a leader are you in this journey to become like Jesus and do the things he did?
 
Ask God to continue shaping and molding you as you pursue apprenticeship of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 
 
As you do, Know that I love you! And as you learn to align your words with your actions, May God bless you!