Point of Contact

Point of Contact

Mark 5: 22-28

22 And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet 

23 and begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.” 

24 So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him.

25 Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, 

26 and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. 

27 When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. 

28 For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”

Matthew 8: 5-8

5 Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him,

6 saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.”

7 And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”

8 The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. 

   In the churches I grew up in, there was a saying that people could believe God for something through some “point of contact.”  It seemed to me this fell into one of three ways. 

   The first was like Jairus:  “If You come and touch my daughter she will be well.”  Some people need someone they see as having some spiritual authority to come to them and touch them so they can receive God.  This may be because they do not have the faith to believe they can directly receive a blessing from God so they have to “piggyback” on someone else’s faith to receive their answer. 

   The second was like the woman who had the issue of blood:  “If I can touch Him, I will be well.”  Some people need to touch spiritual authority to receive.  This is a little different from the first type of people.  These need to be in church or be around the pastor or need to go to an evangelist to receive anything from God.  They want to touch someone or something to boost their faith.  There have been ministers over the years who sent out prayer cloths or small bottles of oil to people who would then have something to hold and to touch and it helped them receive their answer from God.  (Don’t laugh, it’s in the book of Acts.)

Acts 19:11-12

11 Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.

   The third type of people are the type with the faith of the Centurion:  “If you just say the word, I believe it will be done.”  These people know that the power of God is not really in a touch or from a visitation, but in the power of the Word.  The Centurion said he saw the authority that Christ had and his faith was in that authority.  All he required was Jesus’ words and he believed the words and received what he asked.   

   Although my personal wish would be for everyone to be like the Centurion and simply believe God’s Word and have faith to receive from Him, I am not criticizing anyone who needs some type of physical contact to boost their faith.  The point is that you find your faith and can receive what you need form God.  We all are a needy people and have times when we need God’s touch on our lives.  We need to take the lesson from all three of these examples and find our way to God.  None of them just sat and suffered in silence; they all went to find their answer in Christ.  He is the answer we need and He is ready and willing to meet our needs.  Remember the leper who came to Him?  “Lord, if you are willing, You can make me clean.”  And Jesus’ answer is the promise we need to take into our heart.  He reached out His hand to the leper and said, “I am willing. Be clean!”  

   He is holding out His hand to you today and saying, “I am willing.”  Will you believe His word and receive from Him today?

Stephen Cram                                                             February 23, 2014                    

Daniel 1:8

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

Visit my pastor’s blog at http://pastorjonrhinehart.blogspot.com/.

Join Pastor Jon Tuesday nights at 6:30 for Praise Chapel TV at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/praise-chapel-tv .

Unless otherwise noted all Scripture is from the New King James Version of the Bible.

The Salvation of the Lord 3 Watch and See

The Salvation of the Lord 3

Watch and See

Exodus 14:13 NKJV

And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever.”

   Pharaoh decided to let the Israelites leave Egypt, but then changed his mind and sent 600 of his best chariots with armed soldiers after them.  Now the Israelites are on the shore of the Red Sea and the Egyptians are fast approaching.  The people cried out and God heard and gave Moses the message for them.  He told them to do three things:  Fear Not, Stand Still, and Watch what God would do.  We’re discussed Fear Not and Stand Still, now Watch what God will do. 

   The view would have been very different depending on where you were in the crowd.  God sent winds all night and the water blew back and left dry land.  Then Moses gave the order to cross.  If you were in front, you would cross with ease, walking on dry land and no enemies in view, it would have been just a long walk.  But if you were in the rear, you might have heard the wheels of the chariots as they pursued you and the calls of the angry soldiers.  The last few feet and up onto the beach with the sounds of the soldiers pursuing you and then the crashing of the water as it collapsed back into its bed.  And the sound of the chariot wheels and the soldier’s cries would have been drowned out by the water.  Now you’re all reunited on the far shore, safe and free.   You now have a memory to bring to mind when you face another hard situation.  God freed us from Egypt and then drowned the army when it came after us.  This should be a faith-booster; a memory to use when you need to remember God’s goodness and His protection.

   What memories have you collected?  Think of that time when you were up against it and didn’t know where to turn or what to do and then God moved and the crisis was over and you were delivered.  In some cases it’s something dramatic to see and sometimes God moves behind the scenes and then the crisis is over and you’re OK.  No fanfare and no lightning bolts and thunder, He just takes away the problem. 

   Watch and see what God will do the next time you are in a bad situation.  And even if it’s you who got yourself into the problem to begin with, God will not leave you alone to face it.  It’s hard to know what will happen when you find yourself facing a crisis.  Maybe you need to go through the crisis to help you grow more.  And maybe He will just move the crisis and you’ll come right up to it but then be delivered from it.  Whatever happens, you’ll see God moving in your life and watching Him move will give a boost to your faith. 

   I have many memories of God’s work to meditate on and knowing that God gave me mercy and grace before helps me to have faith that He is ready to show me mercy and grace again.  God’s love is not a theory in my life, I KNOW God’s love first-hand.  I have felt His calming hand on my soul and have an assurance that when I’m frightened I can face my fears and, with His help, I will Fear Not.  I am learning that the best response I can have is not to run and scream but to get close to God and Stand Still.  And then the best part is to Watch and See what God will do.

Stephen Cram                                               February 16, 2014                    

Daniel 1:8

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

Visit my pastor’s blog at http://pastorjonrhinehart.blogspot.com/.

Join Pastor Jon Tuesday nights at 6:30 for Praise Chapel TV at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/praise-chapel-tv .

Unless otherwise noted all Scripture is from the New King James Version of the Bible.

The Salvation of the Lord 2 Stand Still

The Salvation of the Lord 2

Stand Still

Exodus 14:13 NKJV

And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever.”

   Last week we left the Israelites by the Red sea and God had told them three things:  fear not, stand still, and watch what God would do for them.  Here we look at the second part of that:  “Stand Still!” 

   I cannot imagine how many times I’ve violated that command in my life.  I’m sure God would have an easier time helping me if I’d stop getting in His way.  I try so hard to give Him the benefit of all my wisdom and let Him know the best way to arrange things in my life.  If only I’d just stopped striving and let Him work things out for me!  But no!  I have to jump in and fumble around until I get tired of the mess I’ve made worse and then I remember to let God work in my life and watch things resolve themselves.  (Can I get an Amen here?)  I’m surprised God hasn’t tattooed “Stand Still” backwards on my forehead so I’ll see it every time I look in a mirror.

   Paul writes in his letter to the Ephesians that we have armor available and that the fight is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual powers.  He ends this passage with the admonition to do something.  Jump in?  No.  Grab hold and work it out for yourself?  No.  He tells us that when we’ve done all to stand, to Stand Therefore.  He does not expect us to take on the powers of evil by ourselves in our own strength.  Most of that spiritual armor is defensive.  He wants us to be protected from attacks of the enemy.  And when we’ve donned our armor and taken up our sword then he tells us to stand.  I submit this is same as the command Moses gave the Israelites.  Moses said Stand Still and Paul said when you’ve done all to stand, Stand Therefore.  (Capitalization for emphasis is mine.) 

   Along with Stand Still comes the implied Keep Your Hands Off.  God calls us to be witnesses of Christ and to pray for the sick and to set free those bound by oppression.  But He wants us to rely on His power and His authority.  If we come under attack, we are to fall back into His hand and let His strength fight the fight.  John the Baptist put it so well, “He (Christ) must increase and I must decrease.”

   My reaction is to wade into the fight and get myself banged up and hurt before retreating into His hand for safety.  2 Corinthians 9 tells us that His grace is sufficient for us.  Sufficient means “more than enough to meet needs or bring about a proposed end.  He is known by many names and one is El Shaddai, El is God and Shaddai is Almighty.  God Almighty is not only sufficient for us - He is more than enough for us. 

   Not only do we read that His grace is sufficient for us, we see that His strength is made perfect in our weakness.  I will climb out on the limb here and say that the more we are unable to defend ourselves the safer we are.  God will move on our behalf in our most dire times of need.  He not only works in unseen ways to meet our desperate needs but He has been known to perform miracles on behalf of His children.

   The secret to a long and blessed life is to bow and kneel at the foot of the cross and stay there.  Staying in a state of worship and prayer is the best advice I can give you when you are being attacked and tested. 

   And I’m preaching to myself here as much as anyone.  I need to bow my stiff neck more and keep it bowed.  I need to bend my unwilling knees and keep them bent.  When I learn to stand still when I’m supposed to stand still I can watch God move in my life.

Stephen Cram                                               February 9, 2014                    

Daniel 1:8

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

Visit my pastor’s blog at http://pastorjonrhinehart.blogspot.com/.

Join Pastor Jon Tuesday nights at 6:30 for Praise Chapel TV at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/praise-chapel-tv .

Unless otherwise noted all Scripture is from the New King James Version of the Bible.

 

   

The Salvation of the Lord 1 Fear Not

The Salvation of the Lord 1

Fear Not

Exodus 14:13

And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever.

   To set the stage for you, the Israelites had left Egypt after the death of the firstborn in what we know as the Passover.  Pharaoh decided they could leave, but then changed his mind and sent 600 of his best chariots with armed soldiers to either kill the Israelites or bring them back to slavery.  God told Moses where to bring them and now they were up against the Red Sea with the Egyptian chariots bearing down on them.  The people cried out and God heard and gave Moses the message for them.  He told them to do three things:  Fear Not, Stand Still, and Watch what God would do.  Today, I’m writing about the first command: Fear Not. 

   I read that there were 365 “Fear not-s” in the Bible, one for each day of the week.  While it sounds nice, it’s not true.  I found “fear not” 74 times (in the King James Version,) and also “be not afraid” 29 times.  Still, that’s a lot of times to say the same thing.  God really wants us to learn to Fear Not.

   Another thing I’ve heard that I believe is true is that the opposite of love is not hate, its fear.  I base that on 1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

God wants us to love Him and trust in Him and rely on Him. Fear interferes with our ability to Love Him completely. 

   In our passage from Exodus, God wanted them to rely on His protection and know that the Egyptians could not harm them any longer.  It looked bad, facing on one side the onrushing chariots filled with armed soldiers and on the other they were crowded up against the sea.  But when you are where God wants you to be He will carry out His will in your life.  The Israelites were called to go to a new land flowing with milk and honey, not called to die on the sea shore.  And so God’s word to them: “Fear Not!” 

   I have needed to learn this lesson the hard way.  I have had some earthquakes in my life.  Not mild earthquakes like the San Francisco earthquake, but real powerful ones.  I’ve been through the death of parents, a daughter, a brother, a best friend.  I’ve lost jobs to lay-offs.  I’ve been homeless and been divorced.  I’ve raised teenagers.  These can be some serious things to live through and I’ve been fearful.

   But being fearful is wrong.  I might go as far as suggest being fearful can be seen as a sin.  Being fearful is not trusting God Who has proven Himself trustworthy.  Being fearful is doubting God’s Word which has proven itself to be absolutely trustworthy. 

   Fear Not!  Stop imagining the worst thing that can happen and picture God standing with you.  Stop running in fear and stand still and face God and let Him calm your fears.  See God’s Hand on your life! 

John 10:29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.

Question:  Who can snatch you from Christ’s hand? 

Answer: No one.  Why?  Because God’s power prevents it. 

   God is greater than all.  Indeed, God is so much greater than all who would try to harm you it is impossible to describe it.  Can you grasp this truth?  The Almighty God, Creator of Heaven and earth, has a plan for your life and He will keep you in His hand until your last day of your life and then you enter eternity with Him. 

So the first thing to do is His hand until your days are up and you find yourself leaving this existence and entering eternity.  his   

Fear not!

Stephen Cram                                                                                       February 2, 2014                    

Daniel 1:8

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

Visit my pastor’s blog at http://pastorjonrhinehart.blogspot.com/.

Join Pastor Jon Tuesday nights at 6:30 for Praise Chapel TV at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/praise-chapel-tv .

Unless otherwise noted all Scripture is from the New King James Version of the Bible.