August 30, 2023
Good Morning Saints, the beloved of God, to those for whom God has poured out His love, and made them the Sons of God. Grace and peace be multiplied unto you continually through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Let me ask you a question:
In Christ, do you know what manner of person you are? Contemplate this for a few moments. Have you fully comprehended who you are in Christ?
Praise Almighty God, finally I will share with you what has been on my heart to teach for the past several months.
Listen to this Passage of Scripture from Mark's Gospel Chapter 4:41, which records the reaction of the disciples of Jesus Christ, when Jesus used His authority and power to calm a horrific storm as they traveled on the sea.
"And they (the disciples) feared exceedingly, and said one to another, what manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"
Without faith in God, we unplug our-selves from God’s love, presence, and power to do the works of God. No faith = no trust in God = and no understanding that God loves us. If you do not know that God loves you, you cannot summon forth those things that are invisible into the visible. (Rom. 4:17) So in the case of the disciples, had Jesus not intervened in the storm, the ship would likely have capsized, and all would have perished due to an absence of faith, which works by love. (Gal. 5:6) Jesus wanted the disciples to learn to place their faith in the power of God and not in the wisdom and ability of men.
Now, in Verse 41, Mark notes that the disciples were in great amazement and astonishment at Jesus's exercise of authority and power over the storm, so much so that they asked among themselves, "What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"
Frankly speaking and with all due respect, it's hard for me to imagine how the disciples could utter from their mouths such a dumb question:
“WHAT MANNER OF MAN IS THIS?”
Are you serious? I would retort, “don’t you already know the manner of Jesus?” “Don’t you know by now who Jesus is?”
Saints of God, didn’t we just read that the disciples cried out, “Master carest not that we perish?” In other words, the disciples were begging and pleading for Jesus to wake-up and come and rescue them from the storm.
As such, Jesus immediately stopped the storm and everything turned calm.
Why thereafter would the disciples question, what manner of man Jesus is? If they didn't truly believe Jesus had the power to deliver them from the storm, then why ask for His help? When the storm had ceased and great calm came, why ask what manner of man Jesus is?
Even more problematic with the disciples question is the fact they should have been fully aware of the manner of Jesus. In the previous Chapter of Mark, the disciples witnessed Jesus cast out many unclean spirits, and the “unclean spirits” all fell down and confessed that Jesus is the "Son of God." (Mark 3:7-11)
Excuse me, but one would logically think if a person witnessed, like the disciples did, devils and demons being extracted from people, and seeing them bow down and confess Jesus as the "Son of God;" that it would not easily, if ever be forgotten! Additionally, Matthew and Luke recorded separate instances in which evil spirits acknowledged Jesus is the Son of God. One of which, occurred again right after the storm the disciples had just been delivered from! (Matt. 8:23-34 & Luke 4:41)
Furthermore, throughout Jesus's earthly ministry, God revealed to several people who Jesus was and is (THE SON OF GOD); surely the disciples should have gotten the e-mail at some point. Recall for example:
*The angel Gabriel told Mary her child would be called the “Son of God.” (Luke 1:35)
*Nathanael said to Jesus, “Rabbi, thou art the “Son of God:” thou art the King of Israel," (John 1:49).
* John the Baptist acknowledged the same thing. (John 1:34)
*Martha confessed she believed it. (John 11:27)
* The centurion at the foot of the cross knew it. (Matt. 27:54).
* Jesus claimed that He said so, and later implied it. (John 10:36, & 11:4)
*Surely, with reasonable logic we would assume immediately after Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist and the Holy Ghost descended upon Him as a dove, that it was noised throughout Jerusalem, and elsewhere that the Voice of God from heaven was heard saying, "this is my beloved son in whom I'm well pleased." (Matt. 3:17, Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:22) Let’s also kick hell down the road apiece, and recall how Satan himself tried to tempt Jesus after His 40-day fasting—saying, “…If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.”
*Up close and personal Jesus asked His disciples who do men say that I am…? It was only Peter who by revelation from on high, answered correctly, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matt.16:13-17)
*How about when Jesus took Peter, James, and John up to a high mountain and was transfigured; and Moses and Elijah appeared and talked with Jesus. The three disciples saw a bright cloud overshadow them and heard a Voice out of the cloud say, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” (Matt.17:1-9)
But even with all of this, the disciples forgot what they should have known—the manner of man Jesus Christ was. In John 14:6-11, recall on the night before the Lord’s passion, Jesus was assuring the disciples that He and His Father God were One, and Phillip asked Jesus saying, “Lord show us the Father and we will be satisfied. As if Jesus who was with them for three-and half years was insufficient to demonstrate that He, and God the Father, are “One.”
Lastly, regarding the disciples response to Jesus delivering them from the storm, Mark noted that the disciples were "exceedingly fearful.” MY, My, my, the disciples were more afraid of Jesus, than they were of the Great storm they had just experienced! (V.41) Instead of being full of joy and worshipping Jesus after being delivered from the storm, they were afraid of Him!
The disciples should have known that if Jesus said let us go over to the other side, then nothing could stop their successful journey.
God’s Word assured as much at Isaiah 43:2:
When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
God said at Isaiah 41:10 & 13
10. Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
13. For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.
Saints, God wants you to know whenever trouble arises, Help is on the Way! (I Cor. 10:13) But even more important, God wants you to take hold of the truth about who you are. God wants you to know and be completely assured of what manner of person you are.
After the finished works of Jesus Christ on the cross, God Himself glorified and exalted Jesus as our Great High Priest and called Him saying “Thou art my Son to day have I begotten thee.” (Heb. 5:5) And, praise God, any person who believes in Jesus Christ and receives Him as Savior and Lord is a new creature in Christ—they become a new manner of person—just as Jesus is. (II Cor. 5:17 & I John 4:17).
Yes, praise God be assured that if you know Jesus Christ, you are to also be assured of what manner of person you are: “You are a son of God.” (John 1:10-13) God has given you the power (Exousia) to become a son of God because you have believed in the Lord. You are born-again from above. Not born of blood, the will of flesh, nor of the will of man, but born of God. You are an heir of God and joint-heir with Jesus Christ praise God. (Rom. 8:17) You are a “New Man’ in Christ, in which God has created you in righteousness (equality with Himself) and true holiness (the mindset of God). (Eph. 4:24)
Moreover, the Apostle Paul wrote at Ephesians 4:25 that we are to “put away lying, and every one of us is to speak the truth with our neighbors…” You See, so many born-again Christians have been lying to themselves and others about what manner of person they are. Calling themselves things like: “I’m only human,” “I’m not perfect,” “I’m just a sinner saved by grace,” “I’m not holy.” Cease from lying, and start saying who you are in God in Christ Jesus—you are a “Son of God,” Righteous, Holy, Accepted, and Blameless, in God’s sight.
The Apostle John also confirmed the manner of person we are in I John 3:1-2, saying:
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
I love these verses because John reinforces the truth in the manner of person we are: “Now,” we are the sons of God. We are to behold the manner of love God has bestowed on us—behold the grace and mercy and love God Almighty has shed upon us, that while we were yet sinners Christ died, so that we might take on His same manner! To be anointed with the Holy Ghost and power just like Jesus was, to go about doing good and healing all that are oppressed by the devil, because God is with us. (Acts 10:38)
We are the sons of God and we do not yet know what we will look like in bodily form until the Lord returns. But right now we know what manner of person we are in our hearts—sons of our Father God with Jesus Christ our big brother!
I hear the Lord saying that it’s high time that we start acting like the sons of God, and taking control over the storms of life, in our own lives as well as the lives of others. It’s time that you cease from resting your faith in “self-ability” and “human wisdom,” and place your faith in the power of the living God! Every Saint needs to hear and know that God loves them, God is with them, God is for them, God is in them, and God is working through them to show forth His glory in the earth!
Everything pertaining unto life and godliness is on the inside of our born-again hearts. (II Tim. 1:3) God has placed every good thing within us so we can be like Jesus and “order every good thing from within.” We never have to leave home (Home being the secret place of the Most High, which is the love of God) just order everything good from within us as we walk in love. (Matt. 6:33 & II Cor. 4:18) As a part of our eternal inheritance in God in Christ Jesus, we have been created to see the eternal things—secret things of God, which are freely given to us by God. (I Cor. 2:9-13)
Paul said, we are all neighbored and membered one to another. (Eph. 4:25) Therefore, whatever the problem your neighbor is going through, is yours too! As a son of God, God has vested in you the authority and power to speak to the problem, put the problem under your feet, and tread and trample down all over the problem—to speak to the mountain and call it removed and cast into the sea! (John 1:12 & Mark 11:23-24) This is the manner of person you are as a son of God. We rule and reign with Christ over the earth. (Rom. 5:17)
Finally, Saints, do not allow Satan to trick you into thinking that your past performance and behavior has rendered you unworthy to be called a son of God and powerless to do miracles, signs, and wonders. Satan wants you to stress and fear as the world does when tribulation and troubles arise, as a way to neutralize your understanding of the manner of person God has made you. In the time of trouble, Satan wants you to faint and have no faith in God—but as a son of God we must always resist the devil with the Word of God, and he will flee. (I Pet. 5:8-9 & James 4:7)
Always keep afresh in your thought-life that God made you one of His sons! I said God made you a son! God created you in righteousness and true holiness—NOT MEN, AND NOT YOU! No matter your past behavior your son-ship is sealed forever in Christ! (Col.3:3 & Eph.4:30) The love of God has been bestowed upon you, and no one can remove God’s love from your life. (Rom. 8:33) Walk in love by loving others as Christ has loved us, and then order anything from within your heart and you will receive it. Remember the promise of Jesus Christ at John 14:13-15:
And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Here the words of the Apostle John at I John 3:22-24 and be assured that if we love one another as Christ loved us, (stay at home) we can order from within anything, and we will receive it.
And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
Walk as sons of God and true lights of the world so that God may be glorified in you. God made you a son of God to see Himself reflected in the earth in character, personality, wisdom, power, and in deeds. Therefore, let your faith always stand in the power of God and speak Peace to troubling things!
Say Amen to the Word of the Living God!
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