Rhapsody of Realities 29 June 2023: His Good Works - Pastor Chris O
SCRIPTURE: How God anointedJesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him (Acts 10:38).
In John 9, the disciples, walking alongside Jesus saw a man who had been born blind. They asked, āMaster, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? As far as they were concerned, God in His justice system was punishing the blind man or his parents for their sin. What a mindset!
Read the Masterās response: āJesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can workā (John 9:3-4). Many read this and run off with the idea that the manās blindness is one of the āworks of God.ā Thatās erroneous!
The translators, on their own prerogative, put a punctuation-a full stop at the end of the 3rd verse- that should have never been there. The more accurate rendering is,ā.. that the works of God should be made manifest in him, I must work the works of him that sent me while it is day.ā
Jesus was saying, āIn this blind man, we see the work of Satan, but for the work of God to be manifest in him, I have to do something about it!ā He then went ahead and healed the man. Halleluiah! The work of blindness didnāt come from God. Acts 10:38 tells us, āHow God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.ā
The oppression came from the devil, but the Father sent Jesus, anointed with the Holy Ghost and with power, to heal and restore maimed limbs, give sight to the blind, mend the brokenhearted, deliver those who are oppressed of the devil, and even raise the dead. These are the works of God! Hallelujah!
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank you for your unmatched goodness, kindness, love and righteousness displayed in the world today. I declare that Satanās hold over menās lives is destroyed, as you work in and through your children to perfect your will in the earth and in the lives of men, for indeed, the earth is filled with your goodness, in Jesusā Name. Amen.
Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Freely (without pay) you have received, freely (without charge) give.
Then I said, Behold, here I am, coming to do Your will, O Godā[to fulfill] what is written of Me in the volume of the Book.
For we are Godās [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].
When Jesus received the message, He said, This sickness is not to end in death; but [on the contrary] it is to honor God and to promote His glory, that the Son of God may be glorified through (by) it.
5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. [They were His dear friends, and He held them in loving esteem.]
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 14 & Nehemiah 11-13
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Luke 5:12-26 &Deuteronomy 27