A GREAT LIGHT
Thursday – September 12, 2019, Elul 12, 5779
Greeting partners and friends of this Ministry and welcome back to this engaging Bible Study of the Book of John. The featured pictures this week have included Donna’s raised garden. She has had a ball with it, we both of enjoyed it say nothing of the fresh vegetables. The picture today features a few of the beautiful lilies near the walk to the front of our home. If you are reading this on Facebook please take a moment to hit the “love” and “share” buttons to give Donna and me feedback and to spread the good news. Now let’s delve as deep as the Holy Spirit will take us today into our study. First let’s read our primary text aloud.
John 12:36-41 (KJV)
36 While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.
37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:
38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?
39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,
40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.
41 These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.
As we have been discussing this week Jesus is not just talking about Himself as THE LIGHT but about the Word of God. Of course, these are indistinguishable from one another just as our word is indistinguishable from us. The thoughts we believe, become words that we believe, and give way to our actions. These together forms the world in which each of us live. No one is in charge of our futures other than we ourselves. Let’s each of us examine our world which is to say our finances, our health, and every other aspect of our lives and ask ourselves and God if this is His will or have, we been walking in darkness. By a asking ourselves and asking God I mean we are to not only have a private conversation with God about this but to study the Scripture about what He thinks our finances should be, what does He think our health should look like, and so on. This will not be easy, will take time (lots of time), and will take diligence. Prayer by others may be of some benefit but nothing will change substantially until we ourselves take responsibility before God and walk in the light (do the light). Adam had total light but choose darkness (lies of the Serpent) and from the Day of Sin and Death there was access to limited light. In the process of time God raised up Anointed men and women of God who shined a light into this darkness for then and for the future, the coming of a great light (Isaiah 9:2). Then came Jesus, the great light.
Matthew 4:13-17 (KJV)
13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:
14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;
16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. (Bold added by Dr. Wood)
17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Isn’t it interesting that the mention of the “great light” is in verse sixteen, and sixteen is the Bible number of love? Must be totally coincidence, no Hand of God here (dripping sarcasm). Notice in our Matthew text above that when John the Baptist was put in prison Jesus moved from Nazareth to Capernaum and dwelt or lived there. No mention of living with someone else. Do we suppose He and His followers were part of the homeless crowd in Capernaum and lived off the good graces of the government and other people? As we finish for today, I want to point out something that was by the grace and mercy of God available to those under the Old Covenant and of course remains available to us in the New Covenant. Notice in verse seventeen, seventeen is the Bible number for victory, we are told what Jesus began to teach and He taught this one way or another during His whole earthly ministry. He is still teaching this message of the Kingdom through those who will say what He says. He says repent, change your course by 180 degrees, run from the darkness you are in, into my marvelous light the Kingdom of God (synonymous with Kingdom of Heaven). If you will live in the Kingdom of God (Heaven) forsaking the darkness and embracing light you will prosper and be in health. Stay in my Covenant, stay in the light, and you will perpetually have life. Let us not like Adam and Eve mix the knowledge of good (light) with the knowledge of evil (darkness). In Egypt the children of Israel lived in the land of Goshen a very fertile are in the Nile delta. During all of the plagues they were not touched including the plague of darkness. Reminds us of Psalm 91, don’t you think?
Exodus 10:22-23 (KJV)
22 And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days:
23 They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.
Psalm 91:9-10 (KJV)
9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
None of this happens just because we say a sinners prayer, it takes study, diligence and then the exercise of faith, in love, led of the Holy Spirit.
Until our next publication, as a Bible Teacher and Prophetic Voice I speak this blessing over each and every one of you, receive it by faith in Jesus name!
Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)
24 The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you;
26 The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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