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About-Him.Com Devotional 11-05-2005
Http://About-Him.Com/ My Thoughts on the Life of Christ, from His Baptism to His Ascension. 198: Discourse on Unbelief Jn. 12:37-50 Full Text John 12:37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: Of whom is John speaking? We know that most of the religious folk did not receive Him, because He didn't fit their mold. Some did believe on Him but were afraid to confess Him , because they thought they would lose their position in the temple. Many of the common people had forsaken Him because they desired a conquering hero who would drive out the hated Romans and restore the throne of David. Sadly, His own disciples who had walked with Him for over three years and who had seen the dead raised and the storms calmed, still did not totally believe on Him. It was only after Jesus was risen from the dead and glorified that they remembered the things that were written in the Old Testament about Him (Luke 24:13-43; John 12:16; Acts 1:3). Such unbelief was prophesied by the prophet Isaiah when He saw the Lord sitting on His throne, high and lifted up with His glory filling the temple, with the heavenly beings continually shouting, "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Host, the whole earth is full of His glory (Isaiah 6:1-9:)." Isaiah wrote much concerning the incarnation of God in flesh. In Isaiah 53, He described the incarnate God as a man who was despised and rejected. He asked, "Who has believed our report," or in other words, "Who is going to believe this? Sad to say, but this included Jesus' own disciples. 44 Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. It grieved the heart of Jesus, that even His closet disciples could not comprehend who He really was. They could not comprehend that this humble carpenter's son was actually God walking among them. I heard it stated recently, that hardly any of the words of Jesus are more than two sylables, yet they confounded the wisest and most educated men of His time, while at the same time stirring the heart of the simple believer. 45 And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. He expressed upon them that they weren't listening to a simple laborer, they were listening to God Himself, the Creator who spoke the worlds forth from nothing by the power of His word. They were listening to the very God who shook Mt Sinai when He spoke to Moses. The words that He spoke as a man were the very utterances of God Almighty and these words would stand against them in judgment at the last day. We remember His annoyance with Phillip when Phillip asked to see the Father. He replied, "Phillip, have I been with you so long and yet you don’t know me? He who has seen me has seen the Father (John 14:9).” 49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak. Conclusion and Application: Unbelief is a killer, a thief and a robber. It will separate us from the very God we profess to serve. Did He not tell us that we could move mountains by simply believing on His promises? Didn't he tell us that if any two or three agree as touching any one thing, it shall be done? I'm not talking of the hyper, name it and claim it type of professed faith that James said was only an extension of our own lust (James 4:3). I'm talking of simply faith, like that of a child freely falling from a height, knowing that his earthly father will surely catch him. A simply faith that rests content with the food clothing and shelter that the heavenly Father has so graciously provided. My father used to express that when he drove down the highway and came to a bridge, he didn't get out of the car and check the bridge structure and second guess the engineers that built it, he simply drove across without a second thought. That is the kind of faith that delights the Lord. Absolute confidence in an absolute God! We, like the disciples have met the glorified Lord and His Spirit dwells in us. Thus, our prayer is not for self enrichment and advancement, It is for the furtherance of the kingdom of God. Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. In About-Him
Online Sermons http://about-him.com/sermonlink.htmlOur Bible Studies http://about-him.com/bslinkpage.html Our Music: http://about-him.com/audio.html Flash Theater http://about-him.com/player.html Scripture list on 30 subjects http://about-him.com/wordarc.html Humor
A builder was being paid weekly for a project that would last for several months. He
approached the owner of the property and held up the check he'd been given."This is
$200 dollars less than we agreed on," he said.
"That's right," the owner said, "And last week I overpaid you $200 ... Funny, but you
never complained then."
The contractor said,"Well, I don't mind an occasional mistake" the contractor said.
"But when it gets to be a habit, I feel I have to call it to your attention."
Somebody Has Said
A banker is a fellow who lends you his umbrella when the sun is shining, but wants it
back the minute it begins to rain. - Mark Twain
Keep Looking Up! Don and Marie Spooner About Him! Ministries Your thoughts and Inquiries Contact@about-him.com Subscribe to this devotional? Subscribe@about-him.com
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