Our ways are not His ways

Isaiah 55:8

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.”

Have you ever imagined everything you thought you wanted, actually come to life? Exactly… in reality, people tend to realize the hard way that we are not in control of our lives. I can’t tell you the amount of times I have planned certain tasks in the day, and it goes either a portion or the complete opposite of what I expected it to happen. There are reasons for how things turn out in our lives, it can either be one of three things. 1. Satan 2. Our careless actions  or  3. By the Lord’s hands.

For those who know Jesus personally we always have to put Him first to receive the proper guidance, and not trying to handle things through our flesh. For as it is noted from Isaiah 55:8, our thoughts and ways are not like the Lord’s ways and thoughts. How are we properly guided? Well, number 1, you must have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ by confessing of your sins and accepting Jesus as your personal savior. Then, we keep in close contact with Him, by reading and living by His word (The bible), and praying continually to Him, then He will do the rest.

I have learned over time as a Christian, that no matter how many times I have tried to handle things on my own, it never went the way expected, because the Lord sought different and had a better plan for me. I look back now and smile, to know that where things didn’t quite make sense in that time, it makes perfect sense now, and I am happy that things turned out the way they did.  If any of you have not watched the movie “GODS NOT DEAD” please be warned *Spoiler alert*.  Here is a perfect example for my discussion today….

For those who have seen the movie, the Professor of a Philosophy class  had placed a task for all of his students to do before starting the class, and that task was to write on paper that (GOD is DEAD), each student had wrote the statement, except for one (a Christian teen); He refused to and when questioned by the professor, he said he couldn’t for the statement was not true. This movie was a movie that tested faith, and a confirmation of the Lord’s works in place in each person’s life; for Christians seeking guidance in the Lord’s work, and for those who are far from the Lord’s loving arms. This young teen was challenged by the professor to fight for the faith of God, and prove that God is NOT Dead. The young teen’s faith had grown throughout the movie regardless of others trying to cause doubt. In his discovery he had learned that the professor who denied the Lord’s existence, knew in fact that the Lord existed, but blamed the Lord since a little child, for his mother’s death (caused by cancer) who was a faithful Christian woman. The young teen went on to say things happen for a reason and that we can’t explain events at the moment; for the Lord knows. Through thorough research and prayer, the young teen was able to successfully win the case of God’s existence as well as win his fellow peers in the classroom. The professor was torn by the repetitive truth he grew up to know, and at the end he was struck by a car that led to his death, but before he died he was companied by a reverend who was there at the right moment (orchestrated by the Lord). In that time the professor had recited the scripture Isaiah 55:8, for he knew God was in control. By help from the reverend, He asked the Lord for forgiveness and accepted Him in his heart before peacefully passing away.

As a Christian living in this wicked world, there are times where your faith will be tested, but by perseverance in reading the Lord’s word, and trusting in Him only, we shall receive knowledge and understanding through our ordeals in life. Whether or not we understand the events that take place and what comes before us, we know that as the scripture noted above says that, for His thoughts are not our thoughts, nor His ways are our ways. No matter if it makes sense to us at the moment just know that the Lord is always in control in all matters.

1 Chronicles 29:11 “Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all.”

Jesus healed a blind man

The Blind Man At Bethsaida

 

A. A BLIND MAN IS BROUGHT TO HIM...

1. By those who begged Jesus to touch him

 Mark 8:22

“And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.”

 

B. JESUS TAKES HIM OUT OF THE TOWN...

1. Leading the blind man by the hand

 Mark 8:23

“And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.”

 

C. JESUS HEALS HIM IN TWO STAGES...

1. Stage one

 Mark 8:23-24

“And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought. And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.”

a. Jesus spat on his eyes and then touched him

1) Perhaps to convey to the blind man His intentions

2) The spit - His intention was to heal, saliva was thought

to have medicinal properties

3) The touch - "Something will be done for your eyes...and I

will do it."

b. When asked if he saw anything, he looked up and said, "I see

men like trees, walking"

2. Stage two

 Mark 8:25

“25After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.”

a. Jesus put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up

b. His sight was completely restored and saw everyone clearly

 

D. JESUS SENDS HIM AWAY WITH AN ADMONITION...

1. To his house, not into town, not to tell anyone

 Mark 8:26

“26And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.”

2. Undue attention would hinder His ability to travel and do His

work

3. Especially by the Pharisees, Sadducees, and the Herodians

Mark 8:11

“And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.”

 

E. SPIRITUAL GROWTH OCCURS IN STAGES...

1. Similar to how this particular miracle occurred

2. Such was the case with Jesus' disciples

 Mark 8:18

“Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?”

 

3. So we should expect our spiritual growth to take time

 1Corinthians 3:1-2

“And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.”

 2Peter 3:18

“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”

-- Faith is patient, understanding that important things often

take time

The Lord Jesus had performed many miracles and wonders before many as He walked the earth, and continues to do so through His faithful workers today. Where carnal minds think all things are impossible when it is beyond their comprehension, but with the Power of our Lord Jesus, all things are possible.

(Matthew 19:26)

"But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible."

The Parable of the Rich Fool

Luke 12:13-21

"And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in abundance of the things which he possesseth. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: and he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because i have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will i do: i will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will i bestow all my fruits and my goods. And i will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

**Why do you save money? to buy more expensive cars or toys? for security? Jesus challenges us to think beyond earthbound goals to use what we have been given for God's kingdom. Faith, service, and obedience are the way to get rich with God. **

Matthew 6:33-34

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness' and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."

**To seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness means to turn to him first for help, to fill your thoughts with his desires, to take his character for your pattern, and to serve and obey him in everything. **

Psalms 37:4

"Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart."

Jesus is the Bread of Life

Matthew 5:6

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”

** Jesus is the bread of life which came down from heaven to give life unto the world, saving us from our sins through His precious blood. He spoke of truth and did the will of His father, ministered to many, showing that the only way they can receive life is to believe in Him, and follow His commandments. Repent, confess of our sins, and obey the Words of God. He simply says that those that come to Him will not hunger and thirst; for they shall be filled. **

 

John 6:27

“Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.”

**It is spoken to not labour for the meat (things of this world) that will perish. But for the meat (The Word of God) that Jesus has given us that will provide us everlasting life with Him. **

John 6:29-34

29Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. 30They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? 31Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. 32Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. 33For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 34Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.”

** In the time when Moses led the Israelites in the wilderness and took them out of Egypt; God had rained bread upon the earth from heaven for them to eat. But that was just physical food. The bread that Jesus talks of is the true bread of life; He who God had sent to the earth from heaven to give life unto the world. That is Jesus Christ our Savior and King. **

John 6:35-38

“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. 36But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. 37All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.”

 

Time is in the Lord's Hands

There is a time For Everything

 

 

Ecclesiastes 3:1-10

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.”

** There is a time for everything, like the scriptures say. Everything is put in a timeline, and not every day is the same. As much as we try to control and orchestrate our lives together, things still fall into another order. (God’s plan) As a Christian, we truly see, experience and understand what that means. We have to put our trust in Jesus all the time in our lives. As much as we try and try to do things our own way, things just don’t work out the way we intend it to; especially if God has something else planned for you. And for a sinner, God calls you multiple times because He loves you and wants to pull you out of your dangerous path to hell. Every day, every hour is required for “everything”. What we have to remember is that God is the maker of time; He makes the timeline, whether we like it or not. But there is a reason it works that way. Because like I said before it is all in God’s plans. Even though at times we think we are alone, and the devil is on your trail, and you think you have control over everything, just know that God is “always” in control. **

Daniel 2:21

“And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:”

** Did you hear that? God has the power to remove kings and set them up. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to them that know understanding. And when you see the seasons (fall, winter, spring, summer), just think to yourself that God had created that. He has everything in time and in place. Those seasons matter, because the food that is grown is made in certain seasons; God provides us our food that way. Remember that. Could a mere human think of that? No. Why because God’s wisdom is greater than that of the worlds. **

Isaiah 55:9

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

 Isaiah 14:24

“The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand:”

1 Corinthians 3:19

“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.”