Musing – Did You Realize that John 3:16 Says It All?

 Hebraic Musing – Did You Realize that John 3:16 Says It All?

Why can I say that the most memorized and quoted verse in the Bible summarizes the entire Bible message?  Let’s read the verse and then we’ll look closely at the three key statements Jesus declared to us.  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life..” John 3:16  KJV

1. GOD LOVES EVERYONE.  “For God so loved the world” is a declaration that God loves everybody, which means everybody.  Who is everybody?  Every class of people from all cultures and nations and skin colors and conditions of their lives.  Yes, God even loves those steeped in sin no matter what they may have done.  Paul clarifies that for us in Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  There’s absolutely nothing we can do to cause God to stop loving us!  He loves His creation – everything made in the first five days and especially the creation He made “in His image” on the sixth day – us! 

That love was taught to many of us in a very popular children’s song. ♫ “Jesus loves the little children, All the children of the world. Red and yellow, black, brown* and white.  They are precious in His sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world.   Jesus died for all the children…      Jesus rose for all the children…” ♫

2. EVERYONE NEEDS JESUS.  God knew this, so “He gave His only begotten Son” because “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23.  BTW – if you look up the word “all” in the dictionary it means ALL.  God gave His children the Ten Commandments and if we are honest we have to admit that no one can keep them.  Truth be known, we violate them every day; especially if we consider Jesus’ clarification of them in His famous “Sermon on the Mount” in chapters 5, 6 & 7 of Matthew.

3. EVERYONE CAN BE SAVED.  This is clear in the phrase “whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”  The“whosoever(s)” are everyone; and that word appears often in the Bible!  Example –  Rom.10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” And “Whosoever” appears 8 times in John (&163 times in the whole Bible!). The Book of Revelation concludes with the Holy Spirit saying “And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Rev. 22:17   So every person we meet is potentially a whosoever… IF they believeth in Him.  This belief is not simple head or intellectual knowledge about Jesus.  Probably 90% or so of the people of the world might believe Jesus was a person who existed.  But Believeth in Him refers to a heart commitment to all that the Bible says about Jesus, the whole good news of the Gospel.  (Many many people will miss Heaven by 18”, the distance from the head to the heart.)  That is why Jesus cautioned us with “and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matt. 7:14

So the heart-believer who makes Jesus his LORD will “not perish but have everlasting life.”  And with that statement Jesus declared the contrasting destinies that await us all – Perish in Hell for eternity, OR have “life everlasting.”

CONCLUSION – God loves EVERYONE,       and we ALL need Jesus,   but only the WHOSOEVERs that truly BELIEVE will have LIFE EVERLATING.

Point(s) to Ponder

What would you do if you only had one verse to recite to a lost person?

Do we realize that the “whosoevers” are every person we meet?

“Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” Mark 16:15

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                          December 29, 2020

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Note – Inspired by message from Sam Moore, evangelist & member of Immanuel Baptist Church, Rogers, AR.
*  “Brown” was added by the Filipino community that ordained me.  (>:

To: Merry Christmas greetings to my “Hebraic Musing” Friends

 

^To      Hebraic Musing Friends      

^From    Joe (& Irene) Brusherd               December 2020

I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas
    and many Blessings in a New and Better Year ahead!
This was a very interesting year, definitely not normal, BUT God is still on the throne.  That changeth not!  Wishing friends & family a “Happy New Year” takes on new significance, since it probably won’t be happier in a worldly sense.  So let’s hope & pray & trust that the “worldly” events draw us all closer to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

On October 13^th Irene & I celebrated our eighth anniversary with dinner at the 21C Hotel in Bentonville.  BTW, Number 8 represents “New Life” in Hebrew and this year sure has been different.  This year has not been the typical “busy” for us; never-the-less, God has poured out blessings galore on us.  Here’s just a few:

Irene has been back into production mode with her “Glass Orchids” jewelry and their popularity is growing.  And she’s involved in Immanuel Baptist Church’s Women’s Prayer Group.

For 11 years now the Holy Spirit has provided Joe with Weekly “Hebraic Musings.”  Considering the issues addressed this year some have been less Hebraic and some have not been “Amusing”.  The Men of Valor Bible Study and the Saturday Breakfasts are the highlights of Joe’s life. 

And the lives of our Kids, GrandKids & increasing number of GreatGrandKids are real blessings.

Susan’s job at Mercy Hospital was eliminated but her resume has 40+ years of experience in the medical field.  She is still very much Aunt Sue to our still growing family.

Jon has started a bicycle repair business in Frisco, TX, and bikes are growing in popularity during these lockdown times!  Dianne is working in Springfield, MO; Kristin & Scott both working & studying.

Joseph & Jeanna settled into their Bella Vista, AR, home with John & Joy nearby tending to their GrandKids, Adeline, Arabelle, Ayo and Avalynn (b. 7/31/20).   They hosted our Thanksgiving Feast with 22 of us!  Jonathan & Courtney and Asana are in Holly Ridge, NC.  Josiah married Briana & celebrated in July (but alas the travel complications kept us from the celebration), their new home is in San Diego, CA.   Jesse married Aubrie 2/1/20 and they did not practice social distancing – Tobias Zechariah is due next February!  And super sweet & super wise Jewelayna is at home with mom & dad.   

Jim & Annie have settled in Rogers.  Jim’s still painting houses (and cars down-wind) while Annie works at the Rogers P.D.

Joel & Liz both work from home.  Liz auditing HIPPA compliance and Joel landed a new job in management.  Caitlyn is trying to finish her Masters in teaching.  Both she and Andrew are working at Amazon.  Creative Jackson in H.S. keeps Joel & Liz on their toes! 

Beth & Kirk live almost 2 hours away, so we go there to learn new stuff from Charity & Faith who are home-school geniuses.   We missed our annual travel experience with them this year. 

We almost had a travel experience in July/August for the wedding of Josiah & Briana in San Diego, CA, and for the memorial service for Joe’s Pastor Floyd in Escondido.  Travel restrictions became unmanageable, we canceled last minute.  Irene & Joe both miss not being able to be with the Calvary Lighthouse Mission folks during the crises – lockdowns and pastoral transition; but we did hear a line from Pastor Mario Soto’s recent message –
“It’s about winning souls for Christ; it’s not about winning arguments!” 

In our frequent meals out our favorite habit is to include our servers in meal-time prayer.  They always ask, “Is there anything else I can do for you?” and we say, “Yes, join us in prayer.”  Most often they do and wonderful relationships develop, and on occasion there are salvation prayers!!!   We’ve also thanked them for their good service and ask “I want to tell your boss.  Who’s your boss?” And they give a name or point.  So we point up and say “Isn’t Jesus your boss?”  That opens the door!

Our travel bucket list, as soon as travel restriction relax:

·     Chicago area – Irene’s cousins; Joe’s family and many many more friends in the area.

·     California – Friends at Calvary Lighthouse in Escondido; Josiah & Briana; and more out West.

·     East Coast – Families of Joel & Liz   & Jonathan & Courtney  in VA & NC

·     And we have friends all across the states and the globe we’d love to see.

We are tired of being home-bound.  It is not us.  We are suffering from severe cases of Wander-lust, Stir-craziness and Cabin-fever!!!  And the antidote for everyone is more face-to-face fellowship.

This is our song for 2020 events and 2021going forward…

♫ The joy of the Lord is my strength, The joy of the Lord is my strength, (3 more X)

He heals the broken hearted and they cry no more (3X)   The joy of the Lord is my strength.

He gives me living water and I thirst no more     (3X)   The joy of the Lord is my strength.   ♫

 

Have a very Merry Christmas
    and let’s all be a Blessing in the New and better Year of 2021!

   Irene  & Joe  Brusherd

Joe & Irene Brusherd

710 Summit Loop, Rogers, AR 72756

479-644-5262    Brusherd@cox.net

479-531-6081    GlassOrchids@cox.net

Musing – What Did Jesus Promise Us Before Leaving Us?

 

Hebraic Musing – What Did Jesus Promise Us Before Leaving Us?

Before Jesus ascended into heaven, he made a promise. “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, … in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”  Acts 1:4-5  NIV    True to His word, right after Jesus ascended, the promise was fulfilled in Acts 2.  In Peter’s infamous sermon he quotes the prophet Joel prophesying that God's Spirit will be Poured Out – “And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams.  And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days;  … And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved.”  Acts 2:17-21  (& Joel 2:28-32) NKJV

That promise was fulfilled!  “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.  Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2:1-4 NKJV   Charles Spurgeon* explained each of the powerful gifts and events in those four verses in one of his sermons?

·      “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come”   Feast day Celebrating the giving of the Law.

·      “they were all with one accord”  (together in unity).  They were ready to receive the wind and the fire.

·      “sound from heaven” “rushing mighty wind”   That’s special! Wind normally comes from N, S, E or W!  From Heaven?!?!  Wind is destructive, but this is like God’s “breath” or “spirit” (Same word in Hebrew!).

·      “it filled the whole house”  Crushing men’s selfish hopes, dreams, goals and ambitions.  Replaced with…

·      “there appeared to them divided tongues”  “as of fire”  Reminiscent of Pillar of fire over the tabernacle, fire of God over sacrifices and the Holy temple, Moses’ burning bush, God’s presence, etc.  Fire provides light which leads to truth.   “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth;”  John 16:13

·      “sat upon each of them”  “May a fire burn steadily within to destroy our sin, a holy sacrificial flame to make us whole burnt offerings unto God, a never-dying flame of zeal for God, and devotion to the cross.”*

·      “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit”  I wonder if the apostles remembered Jesus breathing on them and saying “Receive the Holy Spirit” in John 20:22 ?      Did fire fill the house or the hearts of all the men?

·      “began to speak with other tongues,”  All the men hear in their own tongue the wonderful works of God.*

·      “as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Spurgeon said “The Spirit speaks so Peter’s words could be understood.”  “Where the Spirit of God is truly at work He first fills and then give utterance.”  “Our words are now full of life and flame; they fall like fire-flakes, and set the souls of men blazing with desire after God.”* 

Paul recognized the Spirit’s power.  “And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:4-5  NKJV

What were the GLORIOUS RESULTS?  After Peter’s explanation “…they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’”   AND  they heard about their REDEMPTION and REMISSION of SIN by the blood of Christ     AND   “…that day about three thousand souls were added to them.”      

Spurgeon’s prayer - “O that thou wouldest send the wind and the fire!  Thou wilt do this when we are all of one accord, all believing, all expecting, all prepared by prayer.”* 

And the church had continuing gladness, generosity, baptisms, steadfastness and Hallelujahs galore!*

Point(s) to Ponder

Are those results the dream of every minister, preacher, evangelist, Christian and ourselves?

How can we have all messages ending with the people saying “What shall we do?”?

Would our application of this working of the Holy Spirit result in an “Awakening” today?

♫  Spirit Of The Living God, Fall Afresh On Me. Melt Me, Mold Me, Fill Me, Use Me,   Spirit of… ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                         December 15, 2020

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

* - Inspired by and excerpted from “Ten Classic Sermons by Charles Spurgeon,”  Ch. 1 – “Knowing the Holy Spirit”

Musing – Every End is a New Beginning!

 

Hebraic Musing – Every End is a New Beginning!

Why is this so true?   ♫ “Every day with Jesus Is sweeter than the day before.  Every day with Jesus, I love Him more and more.” ♫     Why?    A – Every day is a new beginning.

The month of May in many countries around the world means graduation time.  Millions of students finish their learning programs from elementary school through doctorate degrees and they begin the next stage of their lives.  Nothing captures the magnitude of this moment more than when students symbolically throw their graduation hats in the air.  It’s a celebration of an end but also of a new beginning.

And “When Moses finished setting up the tabernacle, he anointed and consecrated it and all its furnishings. He also anointed and consecrated the altar and all its utensils.” Numbers 7:1  NIV   According to Rabbi Eckstein, Jewish sages point out the significance of the word for “finished” which is translated from kalot in Hebrew, and can also mean “bride.”  One reason for the allusion to a bride at this juncture in time is because the children of Israel were the bride and God the groom; the completed Tabernacle would be their shared home.  However, there is another significance.  This word has a double meaning; while kalot describes an ending, it also points to a beginning.  A bride is a symbol of a new beginning as a woman begins a new life with her marriage.*

The word kalot in Hebrew with its opposite connotations, teaches us that every end is also a beginning.  At the moment described in Scriptures, the sages explain that everything that had happened in history occurred just for the sake of the moment when God would reside among His people, in the tabernacle.  It was the conclusion of that segment in history and the ushering in of a new era.  And later, when Yeshua came to earth He was seeking a bride, the Church.

Did you ever fully realize that every single day marks the end of one era and the beginning of a new one.  Albeit on a smaller scale, every day of our own lives is an end to our past and the start of our future.  Every day is a “graduation” of sorts. We have finished the hard work that led us to this day, and the future shines brightly before us with infinite possibilities.

The beauty of an end is that we can let go of the things in the past that no longer serve us, that hold us back in life, or cause us needless pain.  Yet, the celebration of an ending is also that we can take all of the positive, instructive and joyful moments from our past and bring them with us into our future.  Everything that has happened in our lives until this very day is what has led us to become the people that we are today.  And yet, we are free to create a different and better future.

Today, let’s honor our past, envision our future, and celebrate the new day.

Point(s) to Ponder

What happens to us at our “End of Life”?

What will happen to the world after the “End Times”?

♫ “This is the day that the LORD has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it…”♫  Psalm 118:24 NKJV

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                          December 8, 2020

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

*   Inspired by and excerpted from “Every End Is a New Beginning” by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, May 27, 2015  

Musing – Sorry. We Cannot Glorify God Privately!

 Hebraic Musing – Sorry.  We Cannot Glorify God Privately!

When I heard this question and explanation, I was convicted.  I always thought that in my private pray-time that I was giving Glory to God for all He has done for me.  Then an examination of Psalm 105 made me realize we need to give Glory to God by telling others.  Can you praise a person who does a good deed by simply thinking?  Or, do you need to tell others about that person’s deed in order to give the praise due him or her?

Psalm 105 starts with a series of Commands. (Imperatives in Bold)  “Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.  Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.  Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.” Psalm 105:1-4 NIV   Notice that all those actions are public praises, not mumblings to ourselves.

What are some advantages of “Bragging on Jesus”?  It takes boldness; starts a witnessing process; reinforces our own genuine-ness, awakens awareness of who God is.  Heaven knows we need an awakening!  If it is good news let’s ♫“Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere…”♫

BTW - Giving glory publically is practice for what we’ll be doing in heaven where everything is public!!!  “Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him,…” Rev.1:7   Jesus quoted Psalm 22:22 in Heb. 2:12 “I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises.”

How many times does the Bible tell us to go public with our praise to God?  Just a few examples:

·      “I will declare your name to my brothers; in the congregation I will praise you.”  Ps. 22:22 

·      “I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among throngs of people I will praise you.”  Ps. 35:18  

·      “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him, praise his name.” Ps.100:4  

·      “With my mouth I will greatly extol the LORD; in the great throng I will praise him.”  Ps. 109:30 

·       “I will extol the LORD with all my heart in the council of the upright and in the assembly.”  Ps. 111:1  

·       “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,”   Eph. 5:19  

Another form of going public to give the Glory to God is by sharing our personal testimony.  Apostle Paul had three classic examples in the book of Acts (another ‘Musing’ topic) with a common thread of telling non-believing persons “Look what the Lord has done!”  ♫He healed my body, He touched my mind, He saved me, just in time. ♫

And if you still wonder why we need to go public, ponder this – “Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,” Psalm 105:5

Point(s) to Ponder

A popular public world-wide response is “Hallelujah”; Hebrew for “Praise God”!
Do we say “Hallelujah” often enough?

Who is it that doesn’t want us shouting “Hallelujah”?

How is sharing your personal salvation testimony giving God the Glory?

♫ “I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever, I will sing I will sing, … 
With my mouth will I make known, Thy faithfulness Thy faithfulness to all generations.” ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                          December 1, 2020

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Musing – Does America Need Another Revival like the First One?

 

Hebraic Musing – Does America Need Another Revival like the First One?

From 1738 until his death in 1770 George Whitefield (pronounced Whit-fild) made seven trips from England to the Colonies in America tirelessly preaching the Gospel to thousands upon thousands each trip.  Time period?  This was leading up to the Revolutionary War and the Declaration of Independence in 1776.  As a biographer said “Had Whitefield never gone to America, the great revival there might never have happened.  And, had there been no great revival, there may well have been no American Revolution.”  And Whitefield’s death so impacted the colonists that would be suffering from raw conditions during the war – “Thus the fires of revival spread into a blaze of freedom – and forged a nation in the process.”

His biography quoted one of the segments of Whitefield’s poignant messages that makes me wonder if America’s fragmented church is part of our current National problem.  Let me quote –

(Speaking of Whitefield) He used his gifts not only to reach individual sinners, but to pull down the strongholds of religious pride and division. In an oft-repeated sermon that was vintage Whitefield causing whole towns to be changed by its strength – Whitefield pretends he is talking to Abraham in heaven –
“Father Abraham,” he cries. “Whom have you in Heaven?  Any Episcopalians?”    Abe - “No!”
“Any Presbyterians?”      Abe - “No!”
“Any Independents or seceders, New Sides or Old Sides, Any Methodists?”     Abe - “No! No! No!”
Whom have you there, then, Father Abraham?”
Abe - “We don’t know those names here!  All who are here are Christians – Believers in Christ, men who have overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the Word of his Testimony.”
“Oh is that the case?  Then God help me, God help us all, to forget having names and to become Christians in deed and in truth.”

Could pride and division and “names” be hampering God’s Kingdom’s progress here in America?

He used a “Preach and Return” model; first message elicited repentance, the return message was for salvation.

Whitefield believed “to lose one’s life for Jesus meant surrendering every moment of the time in which that life is measured.”     “It is better to wear out rather than rust out.”   “I preach as a dying man to dying men.” “Sudden death is sudden glory!”    “Lord, let Thy presence always follow me, or otherwise I shall be but as a sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal”   “The Methodist view of holiness taught that belonging to God meant serving him with time well spent.”

“We know that he started preaching in the open air because the clergymen refused him and the church building wouldn’t hold the crowds.”  Sounds like Jesus’ “sermon on the mount” with thousands on a hillside!

A sailmaker, Benjamin Randall, heard the town crier shouting “Whitefield is dead. Whitefield is dead.” At that, he fell to his knees, cried aloud “Whitefield is dead, Whitefield is in heaven, but I am on the road to hell.”  He gave his heart to God on the spot; later he preached the gospel himself and launched the Free-Will Baptist movement in answer to Whitefield’s lifelong prayer – “Let the name of Whitefield die, that the cause of Jesus Christ many live.”

His biographer said “As Whitefield began preaching from Georgia to Massachusetts, the colonies became one.  He was the ‘first inter-colonial event.’”  Has America become divided again? Are we in need of unification?

Point(s) to Ponder

How do our denominations, pride and divisions impact the preaching of the Gospel?

A listener said he “gave me a heart wound”; meanwhile do we avoid hurting people’s feelings!?!?

Whose name is more important?   Ours?  Our Church’s?   or  Jesus Christ’s?

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”  Isaiah 52:7

 Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                         November 24, 2020

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Note – Inspired by and excerpted from “Forgotten Founding Father – The Heroic Legacy of George Whitefield”
                        by Stephen Mansfield   2001

Musing – Do we Pray to God the way Persecuted Christians Pray?

 Hebraic Musing – Do we Pray to God the way Persecuted Christians Pray?

I’ve heard it said that people who are accustomed to persecution know that it causes a deeper faith.  Instead of fearing persecution, they fear the times when it slacks off causing people to relax and take their faith for granted.  People being persecuted are experts in fervent prayer as they expect imprisonment, torture and possibly death.
Do we suffer persecution in America?  What’s the worst we might suffer if we stand up for our Christian faith? 

What do our typical prayers look like?  A - the “Lord’s Prayer”, or prayers before meals and bedtime, or the “formal” prayers of the leader of a meeting, or spontaneous prayer for family or friend in need.   Are we lacking spontaneous beseeching prayers from deep down in our hearts?  Revivalist George Whitefield said “When the spirit of prayer began to be lost, then forms of prayer were invented.” Here’s some possible reasons - self-sufficiency, not needing God, lack of role models of prayer, lack of teaching on prayer or simply lack of faith! 

In these uncertain times when people sense we may be in “end times” there seems to be more seekers and people open to calling on God in more genuine prayer.  Reminds me of the desperation I sense in Paul’s final instructions to the Thessalonians –  “Be joyful always;  pray continually;  give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.  Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt.  Test everything. Hold on to the good.  Avoid every kind of evil.  May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through.  May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.”  1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 NIV   That’s a thorough teaching on Prayer right there!  Read it again.

Here’s just a few of the many examples of the power available to each of us if we pray in faith and believe:

·      Mark 6:13  “They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.”

·      Luke 10:17  “The seventy-two returned with joy …, ‘Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.’”

·      James 1:5-8  “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.  But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.”

·      James 5:14-16  “Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.  And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.  Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

·      1 Chronicles 5:20  “He answered their prayers, because they trusted in him.”

My friend Johanna’s* summary:  “In some situations a standoff develops as Yehovah waits for us to make a move and we are waiting for Him to work a miracle. The crippled bigger in the temple could have continued to lay on the ground, but instead he reached up and grabbed Peter’s hand, was healed and not only walked, but danced in praise.  We can be like Gideon and ask for a sign like a sheepskin and established the ground rules, and Yehovah showed him that He indeed would be with Gideon in the battle and come out the victor.”

Point(s) to Ponder

Do we really expect a miracle when we pray?
If a person does not believe God will answer, is that person a non-believer?

Is our failure to pray evidence of a lack of faith?

Do we Pray to God in the same way Persecuted Christians Pray?

♫ “Peter and John went to pray. They met a lame man on the way.  He asked for alms and held out his palms, And this is what Peter did say  Silver and gold have I none, But such as I have give I thee, In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk. He went walking and leaping and praising God, …”♫ 

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                          November 17, 2020

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

*   Inspired by and excerpted from “Prayer” by Johanna Shager Hocker, Oct.19, 2020