Читать книгу Miracles Beyond Our Comprehension - A. M. Deigloriam - Страница 12

Jesus was about thirty year old when he travels from his home town of Nazareth to Galilee. He begins His ministry with being baptized by John the Baptist. During this first year He is confronted by Satan and is tested and begins His ministry with miracles. He begins to spend time selecting His disciples and training them. He then left Galilee to be baptized at the Jordan River. It was here that he met John the Baptist that was prophesized 400 years prior in the Book of Malachi.

Malachi 4:5-6 reads, Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, least I come and smite the earth with a curse.

We are to keep the law of Moses and the message that John the Baptist presented throughout his life that prepared for the coming of Christ the Savior. Through John the Baptist and God men were brought to the repentance of their sins, conversion, and obedience to God’s word.

John 1:29 reads, The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. John saw the Holy Spirit descend on Jesus and realized that Jesus was the Lamb of God, the Son of God, the one that would be sacrificed for all the sins of mankind.

John the Baptist is believed to have disciples that were transferred to Jesus’ ministry (One is identified as Andrew). Other early disciples that appear at this time are James, Phillip, Peter, and, Bartholomew.

Immediately after Jesus’ baptism, he is directed by God’s spirit into the wilderness for forty days to be confronted by Satan and to be ministered by angels. Jesus is obedient to God’s will and comes face to face with Satan and is attacked in a way that no ordinary man could endure. However, Jesus was a divine being that could not sin.

Matthew 4:3-11 reads, And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, “It is written. Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple. And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, “It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them. And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, “Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.” Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

Jesus experienced his life as a deity/human from birth to death and allowed himself to be experience the tests of Satan for forty days while fasting in the wilderness.

Hebrews 1:13-14 reads, But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit On My Right Hand, Until I Make Thine Enemies Thy Footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

The angels have always been principally involved in carrying out many ministries for both God and his Son. These ministries have included giving the Mosaic law, delivering messages from God, performing miracles, protecting children and for providing many more blessings. Jesus was made a little lower than the angels so that he may taste death for every man. It was his suffering as a deity and human that justified him and resulted in him being exalted and crowned with glory.

Satan attacks Jesus realizing the outcome, but he still attacks. Satan also realizes Jesus has fasted for forty days and his human body must be weak from the lack of food. Jesus’ reply is from Deuteronomy 8:3, Man shall not live by bread alone, but be every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Jesus’ source of strength was his obedience to the Father’s will. The importance of obedience and being in God’s will cannot be minimized.

Satan uses Psalm 91:11 reads, For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. Satan is asking Jesus to sin by testing God. Jesus reply is from Deuteronomy 6:16, Ye shall not tempt the Lord your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.

Satan’s third temptation is to offer many kingdoms to Jesus if he would worship him. At this point, Jesus rebukes Satan and demands that Satan leave his presence. This last temptation is absurd and gets little or no consideration. However, Jesus has endured a severe attack by the ruler of death and evil and needs to be administered by the angels.

There are millions of angels that minister to children on a daily basis in many different ways. They will provide direction to children by speaking to them in a way they will understand, they may distract them long enough to avoid a dangerous situation, or in some cases actually work through another person to change their living situation. Guardian angels are an important part of the everyday life of the believer. They know what is in the future and will guide us through different situations. We need to remember that we are under constant review by the angels and we need to live our life in a way that would not be offensive to them. Acts 27:23 reads, For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve. Guarding angels may come to a child in pairs just as Jesus sent the disciples out in pairs. The first angel will provide great comfort in holding the child until they are at peace. Psalm 91:4, reads, He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. This comfort is not what we normally associate with a physical feeling, but with all encompassing warmth that brings the spirit and body at peace and may prepare the child for a second angel. Luke 2:13 reads, And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying. If needed a second angel may actually speak with force and pull the child to safety. Again, this is not a voice you hear with your ears and feel the pull on your body.

The angel Gabriel was a messenger that often delivered information to those in need. The angel Gabriel would provide assurance to those he approached with a word of peace and safety.

Luke 1:19 reads, And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to show thee these glad tidings.

The angel Gabriel delivered a message to Zechariah that his prayers were heard and that his wife Elisabeth would bear a son.

Luke 1:26-38 reads, And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto the city of Galilee, named Nazareth. To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she was him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever: and his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man. And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elizabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angle departed from her.

The angel Gabriel delivered a message to Mary and remained with her for a period of time to explain what was about to transpire. She was chosen by God to deliver to this earth the Son of God for the salvation of all mankind.

1 Corinthians 4:9 reads, For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.

Our lives are a spectacle to all the angels and the principalities.

Satan attacks again and again regardless of the outcome. Satan is an extremely powerful supernatural fallen angel capable of transporting Jesus from the wilderness to the Temple in Jerusalem to the highest mountains in Israel. In another supernatural act Satan was able to show Jesus the kingdoms of the world and without consideration for the truth offers these kingdoms to Jesus for his rule. Satan is extremely cunning and knows our weaknesses and will attack us with his demons when we are the most vulnerable. These attacks can come in many different forms and from many different sources.

We see these acts of pure evil each day as man drifts deeper into social decay and people are no longer able discern good from evil. What was considered illegal and not appropriate for public discussion fifty years ago is now on display for a child’s viewing. The basic social values have been eroded to the point where even the definition of a family is no longer understood.