Jesus' power over the storm (Matt.8:23-27) by Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

Weekly Message: Jesus’ power over the storm (Matt.8:23-27).                9/10/2017

By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical Precepts & Gospel Music

  

                 Facing the storm, does your house built on the rock and stand still? When the rain came down, the stream rose, and the winds blew and beat against the house, yet, it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. (Matt.7:25). Jesus said, “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against the house, and it fell with a great crash.” (Matt.7:26-27). Rock here portrays not Christ but His “word”, the word that reveals the will of heavenly Father. The “rain” here “is of God”; the “rivers”, which from the earth, “are of man”. And the “winds”, which blow from the air, “are of Satan”. “Sand” refers to human concepts and natural ways. If we live and work according to our human concepts and natural ways, our living and work will be founded on sinking sand. The living and work of the kingdom people must be founded on the word of the new King for the accomplishing of the will of the heavenly Father. [1]

            A furious storm described in Matt.8:23-27, illustrated “the fallen angels in the air and the demons in the water collaborated to frustrate the King from going to the other side of the sea because they knew He would cast out the demons there. (vv.28-32).” When Jesus saw the crowd around him he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. (v.18). Jesus got into the boat and his disciples followed him, without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, and “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” then Jesus got up and rebuked the winds and the waves. It was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!  (Matt.8:23-27).

 Jesus the King rebuked the winds and the sea because in the winds were the fallen angels of Satan (Eph.6:12) and in the sea were the demons (v.32). “It was not the wings and the sea that obeyed the King’s authority but the fallen angels above the winds and the demons under the sea.” [2] the Lord gave them a word, telling them to depart to the other side. If they had believed that WORD, they would not have needed to pray as they did in v.25 “Lord save us! We are going to drown!” The fallen angels in the air and the demons in the water collaborated to frustrate the King from going to the other side of the sea because they knew He would cast out the demons there. The narrative described in v.32 “He said to them, go! And they came out and were into the hogs. And behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep slope into the sea, and they died in the waters.” (vv.28-32).

What is the theological principles and life application?

1)      We are not fight with flesh, but darkness of evil. Be aware of when we answered calling and obeyed His words, the fallen angels of Satan and demons will do many ways collaborate to frustrate, hinder and block us to fulfill God’s will. Jesus’ orders to His disciples “to cross to the other side of the lake”, on the boat, disciples were frighten by a furious storm came up on the lake and the waves swept over the boat.

2)      Praying, resting, and wait the Holy Spirit transforming process. As disciples woke Jesus to save them. In this generation, it’s important that we pray and call upon the name of the Lord to subside the storm. Prayers and trust our savior Jesus is King of kings, and Lord of lords, the fallen angels of Satan in the winds and the demons under the sea must subject to the King.

3)      We shall know the truth; the truth shall set us free. When we know the savior Jesus Christ has such great power, we will rest in Him and calm our souls without anxiety attack. He is great I AM, who said, “Before Abraham was born, I AM”. He ensured us, “in me you may have peace, in this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world.”(John16:33).

4)      Taking the sword of spirit which is word of God. Boldly declare Ps.91:1, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. If you make the Most High your dwelling even the Lord, who is my refuge… then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.”(Ps.91:1, 9).

5)      The powerful of the resurrection of Christ is with us; our blessed assurance is in Christ. As David said about Christ, “I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices, my body also will live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave. Nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.” (Acts2:25-28)

6)      Do our best to find tranquility in our soul, and rest in the Word of God. As Matt.6:31-34 says, “So do not worry, saying what we shall eat? Or what shall we drink or what shall we wear? For the pagans run after all these things and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things well be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worries about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.”  (Matt.6:31-34)

                 My friends are you facing a furious storm, boldly rebuke storm like Jesus, and claim the word of God by praise Lord, and worship God. “Praise thwarts Satan; praise is a powerful weapon against Satan. Satan hates praise, for it reminds him about God is still supreme in spite of all his evil efforts throughout all the ages.” [3]

How to praise in order to defeat Satan?

 1) Declare and magnify the victory of Christ with His word in the powerful name of Jesus.

 2) Praise for the blood of Christ on the cross, and the triumph of the resurrection.

3) Extol His risen and His exalted position.

4) Lift up His name in triumphant faith.  

                 Christ Jesus has given authority to disciples who followed Him in Jesus’ time; the powerful authority is same in this era. In Moses time, God led Israel crossed over the Jordan River. In this generation, in Christ; we can “cross over the mod of sin and death to the dry ground of life eternal.”[4] When your house had its foundation on the rock which is Word of God and praise Lord for His victory in your life every day, your house would not fall. (Matt.7:26-27).

Listen to the message video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Jpp09uzwyE

Bibliography,

Bauer, Walter. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. 3^rd Chicago: The University of Chicago press, 2000.

Brown, Robert, Philip W. Comfort and J.D. Douglas, ed. The New Greek English Interlinear New Testament. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.1990.

Friberg, Timothy, Barbara Friberg, and Neva F. Miller et al., eds. Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament.1^st ed. Victoria BC: Trafford Publishing, 2005.

Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.

Lucado, Max. God is with you every day. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2015

              Myers, Roth. 31 days of praise. Colorado Springs, CO: Multnomah Books, 1994.

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV). Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986. 

 Strong, James. Strong’s: the expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2010. 

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[1] Witness Lee, the New Testament. (Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985), 47.

[2] Witness Lee, the New Testament. (Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985), 52

[3]  Roth Myers. 31 days of praise. (Colorado Springs, CO: Multnomah Books, 1994),144.

[4]  Max Lucado. God is with you everyday. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2015), 280

Jesus took up our infirmities and carried our disease by Rev. Katherine ...

Weekly Message: Jesus took up our infirmities and carried our disease

By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel Music              8/27/2017           

The power of Christ Jesus had performed and approved by the prophets and all His disciples as witnesses. In O.T. Isaiah said, “He took up our infirmities and carried our disease.” had confirmed by Apostles in N.T. All these narrative were written by Apostle Matthew, Luke, Mark, and John. The proof of the king that Jesus Christ is Messiah, there are few factors and evident as followers,  

      First, Jesus’ power over defilement- he was cured of a man with leprosy (Matt.8:3).

Second, His power over distance- when a centurion’s servant lies at home paralyzed, Jesus said a word according to the centurion’s faith, who asked for healing, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘go, and he goes and that one, ‘Come’ and he comes. I say to my servant, “do this and he does it” (v.8-9). Jesus was astonished about his great faith, and healed his servant by commanded, “Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.” (v.13). Jesus with all authority and divine power performed the miracle, centurion’s servant was healed.      

Third, Jesus’ power over disease- when Peter’s mother in-law lying in bed with a fever. Jesus touched her hand and the fever left her. And many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.

Fourth, Jesus’ power over the deep- when Jesus got into the boat and his disciples followed him, without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying,  “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” Jesus got up and rebuked the winds and the waves. It was completely calm.

Fifth, Jesus’ power over demons – when he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him, and said, “ Son of God…have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?” the demons begged Jesus, “ if you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.” Jesus said to them, “Go!” so they came out and went into the pigs. 

Sixth, Jesus’ power over darkness- when there were two blind men followed Jesus calling out, “have mercy on us, Son of David.” Jesus asked, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” they replied, “Yes, Lord”. Jesus touched their eyes and said, “according to your faith will it be done to you.”( Matt.9:29) And their sight was restored. 

Seventh, Jesus’ power over death – a ruler came and knelt before Jesus and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.” Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples, on the way, a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak she said to herself, “if I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter…you faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed from that moment.(Matt.9:20-22). When Jesus entered the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd, Jesus said, “Go away, the girl is not dead , but asleep.” But they laughed at him. After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. (Matt.9:23-26).   

These factors and events approved the power of God and approved by all His disciples as witnesses. All these narrative were written by Apostle Matthew, Luke, Mark, and John. Many sicknesses came to Jesus, demonstrated great faith and belief, so the miracles were preformed. “Some called Him “Son of God” which is Jesus’ divine name. (Matt.8:29). Some called Him, “Son of David”, His Jewish name (Matt.9:27). But “Son of Men”, the name that signifies Jesus on the earth and His mission which emphasizes His lowliness and humanity (Matt.8:20) His suffering and death. (Luke19:10) and His future reign as king”.  (Matt.24:27).[1] 

   In this era, Jesus’ healing power and comforting are still the same. His words are still powerful in this day to those who believe in Him, by the powerful name of Jesus, and our faith with persistent prayers and fasting, Jesus unveiled himself to the individual who had faith in Him.

In Feb. 1999, my mother had hypertension, asthma attacked, Leukemia, during the dialysis, because of fever persistent, asthma attacked, and poor infection control, she was asleep, and unconscious, her skin was turned to dark. Even nurse said, “Sorry, your mother has passed away.” But I prayed without ceasing and countless fasting, “O Lord, let her come back to me, I led her to local church and baptized, but she had not yet learned Bible, let her back, and let me serve her not mother, but sister in Christ.” and I called for prayers support from local church and TIC prayer group, she had experienced Jesus’ healing and rose from death during June and discharged in August 1999 in Taiwan. And she went with me to testify that Jesus’ healing power at hometown local hospital and walked with me to the church in Sep.1999. She shared her faith with my old sister over the phone, and told her to pray in the name of Jesus in March 1, 2000. Jesus prolonged her life four and half years, she had never learned Chinese, after she rose from death, I taught her Bible in Hakar language and Chinese writing. She wrote four notebooks,     “Heavenly Father”, 天父 “Son of God神的兒子”, and “Jesus loves you耶穌愛你”. She passed away in thanksgiving 2003. Indeed, Jesus’ power over the disease and took up our infirmities and carried our diseases (Matt. 8: 17). Each crisis produced an opportunity to serve the Lord, and each worship song I composed and sung out from the heart under the circumstances. It became the songs of deliverance and songs of salvation in my life and Christian ministry journey.

My friends, when there is no hope and no physicians to go, call upon the name of Jesus, praise Him, and petition your weakness, and sickness to Him. Jesus can heal and grant you inner man’s peace. Jesus’ comforting and healing are still powerful in this era, who said, “Take heart daughter, your faith has healed you; according to your faith will it be done to you.” (Matt.9:29). “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”; “don’t be afraid, just believe, and she will be healed.”(Luke.8:48, 50). Jesus loves you and His comforting is the same in A.D. 60-50, who said, “come to me all you who are weary and burdened, I will give you rest. (Matt.11:28). He is Messiah Christ, the great “I am”, He is the same yesterday, today, and forever more.   

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[1] Charles C. Ryrie, the Ryrie study Bible (NIV). (Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986),1327.

Bibliography,

Bauer, Walter. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. 3^rd Chicago: The University of Chicago press, 2000.

Brown, Robert, Philip W. Comfort and J.D. Douglas, ed. The New Greek English Interlinear New Testament. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.1990.

Friberg, Timothy, Barbara Friberg, and Neva F. Miller et al., eds. Analytical Lexicon of the
Greek New Testament.1^st ed. Victoria BC: Trafford Publishing, 2005.

 Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.

 Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV). Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986. 

 Strong, James. Strong’s: the expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2010. 

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[1] Charles C. Ryrie, the Ryrie study Bible (NIV). (Chicago,
IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986),1327.

Jesus is answer (message) by Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

Weekly Message:  Jesus is answer by Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce 

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical Precepts & Gospel Music   8/5/2017

Introduction

       My friends, do you frustrate of your love one and anxious about how to keep life go on? Or worry about your children, how to fit in and grow in godliness life?  Jesus is answer.  

Jesus is the best Father, Bridegroom, and Physician

When there is conflict, hurt, disagreement, our Lord Jesus is able to transform your love-one into His likeness in His timing. Don’t be frustrated, persistently lead children or your love one to know the Jesus Christ our Lord and grow them in Biblical precepts, decrees, and laws in the Bible. By the powerful Word of God to penetrate their thoughts and minds, the life will find the way of peace, love, strength, joy, favor, acceptance, forgiveness, and eternal life. Jesus Christ our Lord is the best Father, Bridegroom, and Physician. Once your love-one find Jesus, he or she will find the inner-man peace and emotional tranquility. Jesus Christ our Messiah can transform Saul into Apostle Paul in Jesus’ timing; He will do the same things in this era. For Jesus is same yesterday, today, and forever more.  

The Psalmist King David’s help

   My friends may be you live in a long life, yet, without love and struggle to serve someone full of anger, better, envy, and jealous person just like King Saul. It results you search the meaning and answer of life. In the Old Testament, when the Psalmist King David in the Desert of Judah, separated from the sanctuary in Jerusalem, David fellowships with God, and rely on God who is “the desire of his being, the delight of his soul, and the defense of his life.”[1]   He expressed his deep love to his God, his soul thirsty for him and on the bed he remembers and thinks about the Lord through the watches of the night. He said,

“I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods, with singing lips my mouth will praise you. On my bed I remember You, I think about you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wing. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.”(Ps.63:2-8).

When Psalmist King David faced enemies’ life threatened and dangerous, in his whole being, he yelled to God and claimed “the Lord’s love is better than life”. In his distress, and frustration he appealed for God’s help and petitioned God to defense of his life. Even the imprecatory prayers appears to verse 9,

“They who seek my life will be destroyed; they will go down to the depths of the earth. They will    be given over to the sword and become food for jackals. But the king will rejoice in God,       all who swear by God’s name will praise him while the mouths of liars will be silenced. (Ps.63:9-11).  The Lord is love, full of mercy and close to those who were broken heart. And the teas of those who delight in Him, trust in Him and rely on in Him, he will not neglect it. Jesus Christ as Messiah, he demonstrated as such servant, “a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering witch he will not snuff out” (Isa.42:3).In Chinese literary says, “壓傷的蘆葦,他不會折斷,將殘的燈火,他不吹滅.”(Isa.42:3). The Lord is full of compassionate, and understands each heart of frustration, and able to forgive the act of imprecating. For God is love, he came to the world not to condom the world, but save the world.

Jesus is the way, He transformed Saul into Apostle Paul

           Jesus is the way, life and truth. In Jesus’ timing, He deals with a most cruel man named, Saul. Jesus met him in a light, spoke to him and transformed him into an apostle. Saul became Apostle Paul who described himself few characteristics in the book of Philippians 3:4 – 6

 “If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more:

1) Circumcised on the eighth day, 2) of the people of Israel, 3) of the tribe of Benjamin,

4) a Hebrew of Hebrews, 5) in regard to the law, 6) a Pharisee, 7) as for zeal, persecuting the           church, 8) as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.”

Can you believe Jesus is able to do more than what we can image? Jesus’ transforming power modeled Saul into the purist gold to serve the Lord in His timing. The divine power of God shaped Paul into a willing heart that he had forsaken everything in order to gain the Christ. Paul’s explicit statement in Philippians 3:7-8 said,

 “But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, than I may gain Christ.” “But one thing I do: I forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Phil.3:13).

Moses’ prayers satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love

  My friends, each concern, worry and conflict with your love one, lead them to know Jesus and the knowledge of truth. Keep praying and petition for them, help them to grow in the Bible, the Word of God will shape them into the godliness and contentment. Each conflict, don’t live in the sense of frustration nor give up the life. In Old Testament, Moses faced his people all the anger, rejection, he didn’t give up nor turn away from his people, yet, he petitioned for his people without ceasing, in Psalm 90, he prayed,  

“ Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations…you turn men back to dust, saying, return to dust, O sons of men. For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night... we are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation…the length of our days is seventy years or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow…teach us to number our day aright that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Relent, O Lord! How long will it be? Have compassion on your servants. Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, we may sing for joy and be glad all our days…may the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us, establish the work of our hands for us –yes establish the work of our hands.”  

My friends, do you live in anger, wrath, frustration, complain, anxious about yourselves or your love-one all the days of your life? Or you serve someone can never satisfy about your service?  Moses lifted up his people to the Lord in prayers; Psalmist King David sought God’s help, and claimed the Lord’s love is better than the life. Life without love is meaningless; love without life is also meaningless. Yet, one thing I know that Jesus satisfied both, He gives not only eternal life, also unfailing love. Even Moses prayed “satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love.” And King David said, “O Lord, because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.”  

My friends, when earthly love can’t satisfy you or frustrate you, let heavenly Father’s love satisfies you. “The Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought if you seek him, he will be found by you.” (1 Chronicles28:9). The love of Christ Jesus provides you both unfailing love and eternal life.  Leading your love one to know Jesus Christ, and learn the Bible.  The powerful Word of God able to penetrate the thoughts and minds and transform one’s characters. And the life will find the way of peace, love, strength, joy, favor, acceptance, forgiveness, and eternal life. Jesus Christ our Lord is the best Father, Bridegroom, and Physician. Once your love-one find Jesus, he or she will find the inner-man peace and emotional tranquility. Amen!

  

Bibliography,

Bauer, Walter. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. 3^rd Chicago: The University of Chicago press, 2000.

Brown, Robert, Philip W. Comfort and J.D. Douglas, ed. The New Greek English Interlinear New Testament. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.1990.

Friberg, Timothy, Barbara Friberg, and Neva F. Miller et al., eds. Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament.1^st ed. Victoria BC: Trafford Publishing, 2005.

Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV). Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986. 

 Strong, James. Strong’s: the expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2010. 

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[1] Charles C. Ryrie, the Ryrie study Bible (NIV). (Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986), 773