THOSE WHICH SUFFER ADVERSITY
Wednesday – August 1, 2018, Av 20, 5778
Here we are once again to learn of the Lord. The featured picture is of the buffalo Adam and Eve on the ranch in Texas as well as a cautious donkey (notice the donkey’s ears). The Lord, specifically, the Holy Spirit is our main Teacher. The teaching comes to us from many sources like these writings, the Pastor at Church and so on but in the end, our learning has to do with our diligence and attentiveness to the Holy Spirit. Listen to Jesus, by reading the following verse aloud.
John 14:26 (KJV)
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Jesus says that the Holy Spirit whom the Father would send, would teach us all things and bring all things to our remembrance. What do you suppose the word “all” means? According to Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary of the English Language, all means “Every one, or the whole number of particulars”. Of course, it goes on to say this in many different variations but the word “all” excludes nothing concerning the topic. Remember that the word “things” can generally be translated as “words”. Words spoken in faith powered by love and led of the Spirit bring all good things, things of God to us. Now, let us take a look at our primary Bible text and read it aloud.
Hebrews 13:1-5 (KJV)
1 Let brotherly love continue.
2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Today I will be exploring the third verse which is intertwined with the second verse in its general intent. Notice the third verse below from a different Bible translation.
Hebrews 13:3 (CSBBible)
3 Remember those in prison, as though you were in prison with them, and the mistreated, as though you yourselves were suffering bodily.
People in prison are not throw away people, they are purchased by the same precious Blood as you and me. God’s love for the vilest person in prison or who walks the earth is no different than His love for me and you. Hell is too long and too awful for anyone to experience and the good news is that no person needs to have that experience. This does not mean that every Christian has to visit people in prison but I believe it does mean that we pray for them and where led of the Spirit of God go or sponsor others to go. I have two very good friends from Canada who do that in the San Antonio, Texas area. Their ministry or others in your particular area are well worth supporting (yes with cash) or perhaps your Church could start an outreach to a local prison. I am not talking about some kind of one time shot to make the Church feel better, I am talking about a weekly thing that calls people to salvation and disciples them. Beyond that, it is important to be involved in their lives when they leave prison. Now, don’t get hung up on technicalities between prisons, and jails and so on just do the Word of God. Really think about what prison life is like, several hours a day in a small cubicle, showering in public, pooping and peeing in public, dressing and undressing in public, your diet dictated by others, your whole day dictated and overseen by others.
There are those among us who are abused from the day of conception to the day of their physical death. Many have loving parents however some children of all ages are tormented in one or more forms relentlessly. Many spouses both male and female are in abusive relationships of all degrees whether it be emotional or physical. Those who are elderly among us also suffer abuse. None of this should be going on among us in the Church, the body of Christ Jesus. The Scripture is telling us that perhaps we will be more empathetic, sympathetic, interventionally inclined if we will but picture ourselves in that situation. Can we imagine the anguish of these people, people just like us brother and sister? These are people just like us purchased by the precious Blood of Jesus, people whom the Father loves just like us. Perhaps they contributed to their own situation, but we the body of Christ are in the earth to lift the burden and destroy the yokes with the Anointing. Jesus was The Anointed One but brother and sister we are now the Anointed ones in the earth. We are to do as He did and even greater things.
Isaiah 61:1 (KJV)
1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
Let’s get off our duffs and get about the Lord’s business, our business.
Until our next publication, I speak this Scriptural prayer for your life right now, receive it in the name of Jesus, confess it, and walk it out with thanksgiving.
Ephesians 3:13-19 (KJV)
13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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