Daniel Whyte III's Blog, page 10

LISTEN: The Story of Jesus and the Defeated Paralytic, Part 1 (Just Jesus Evangelistic Campaign, Day 633 since Jan. 20, 2017 / Day 1,000 since Jan. 1, 2016 with Daniel Whyte III)

Daniel Whyte III

TEXT: Matthew 9:1-8

1 And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.

2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.

3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.

4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?

5 For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?

6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.

7 And he arose, and departed to his house.

8 But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.

——-

Joni Eareckson Tada said, “Many people in the throes of suffering, disappointment, and despair, feel utterly stuck in their circumstances. They see no hope beyond their day-to-day drudgery of disability routines; but when hurting families place themselves under the shower of God’s mercy, suddenly the clouds part. They realize there’s hope, life, and even joy beyond their suffering.”

By way of introduction, the Bible Knowledge Commentary reads, “Returning from the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus went to His own town, Capernaum. There the faith of some men was evident when a paralytic, lying on a mat was brought to Jesus. Mark explained that four men lowered him through the roof. Several religious leaders were present and heard Jesus tell this man, Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven. Apparently the illness had resulted from his sin. Jesus was claiming divine authority, for only God can forgive sins. The leaders stumbled over this and said to themselves, Jesus is blaspheming! This was the first opposition of the religious leaders to Jesus. Knowing their thoughts, Jesus asked them whether it is easier to say one’s sins are forgiven, or to tell him to arise and walk. While either statement could be spoken with ease, the first would be “easier” in that it could not be disproved by onlookers. If, however, Jesus had first said, Get up and walk, and the man remained paralyzed on his mat, it would be clear Jesus was not who He claimed to be. Jesus therefore spoke not only the easier words, but He also spoke of healing, thereby proving He has power to perform both acts, healing and forgiving sin. As a result the crowd was filled with awe. They recognized the authority behind such actions, and they praised God.”

Warren Wiersbe said, “The Lord had shown Himself powerful over sickness and storms, but what could He do about sin? Palsy was a gradual paralysis. This man was unable to help himself, but fortunately he had four friends with love, faith, and hope. They brought him to Jesus and permitted nothing to stand in their way. Was the man’s physical condition the result of his sin? We do not know. But we do know that Jesus dealt with the sin problem first, for this is always the greatest need. We must not conclude from this miracle that all sickness is caused by sin, or that forgiveness automatically means physical healing. A pastor of mine often says, “God can heal every sickness except the last one.” More important than the healing of this man’s body was the cleansing of his heart. He went home with both a sound body and a heart at peace with God. “ ‘There is no peace,’ saith my God, ‘to the wicked’ ”.

After dealing with the demon-possessed men of the Gadarene (gad-a-reen) coast, Jesus, heeding the wishes of the people of that town, “entered into a ship and came into his own city.” We assume this to be Capernaum (ka-per-num), the place where, a day earlier, he had resided at Peter’s house. As Jesus returns to the city, He is met by men bringing their friend who is “sick of the palsy.” Palsy is a kind of paralysis and weakening of the muscles that is often accompanied by involuntary tremors. In keeping with His other encounters with the sick, Jesus immediately notes the faith of the people involved.

The Bible says, “Jesus seeing their faith.” How did Jesus “see” their faith? Of course, Jesus could look into these men’s hearts and minds and know that they had faith in Him. But, Jesus saw their faith by their actions. They expended the energy to pick up their friend and carry him on his bed to this Man whom they believed could heal him. The parallel account in Luke tells us that there was a crowd gathered to hear Jesus teaching, and these friends took the paralyzed man to the roof of the house, tore the roof apart, and lowered the sick man into the house. That is what their faith led them to do. Jesus saw that faith; and it moved him to act on behalf of their friend.

We do not know if the sick man had any faith of his own. Perhaps, he had given up on believing that he could be healed of his condition. Jesus’ statement to this man indicates that this might very well be the case. He “said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer.” F.F. Bruce writes in his commentary: “With swift sure diagnosis, Jesus sees in the man not faith, but deep depression, associated probably with sad memories of misconduct, and uttering first a kindly hope-inspiring word, such as a physician might address to a patient: cheer up, child! He deals first with the disease of the soul.”

Many, today, are experiencing paralysis — not necessarily paralysis of the body, but paralysis of heart, mind, soul, spirit, and life. Do you feel like your life is going nowhere? Do you feel like you can’t get out of bed in the morning because your vision of life is devoid of faith and hope? As though your feet are stuck in quickly-drying cement? This passage shows us that when we bring not just our problems, but our very selves to Jesus, he has a word of comfort and healing: “Son, daughter, be of good cheer!” There is no rationale given for this “good cheer” except that one is in the presence of the Son of God. Jesus didn’t heal the man first and then tell him to be of good cheer. He told him to be of good cheer first simply on the basis that he was now in the presence of the Great Physician, the divine Problem Solver, the Heart Healer, the Soul Saver. If we are to be of good cheer, we must get in the habit of bringing our problems to the Lord. And, if you already possess this good cheer, be like the friends of the paralyzed man and help your friends bring their problems to Jesus.

One hymnist wrote:

Rejoice in the Lord! Oh, let His mercy cheer;

He sunders the bands that enthrall;

Redeemed by His blood, why should we ever fear,

Since Jesus is our all in all?

Be strong in the Lord! rejoicing in His might,

Be loyal and true day by day;

When evils assail, be valiant for the right,

And He will be our strength and stay.

Confide in His Word, His promises so sure;

In Christ they are yea and amen;

Though earth pass away, they ever shall endure,

‘Tis written over and over again.

——-

Now, if you are with us today and you do not know Jesus Christ as your Savior, allow me to show you how you can place your faith and trust in Him for Salvation from sin and Hell.

First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”

Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Now that is bad news, but here’s the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will.

Romans 10:9 & 13 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved… For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

If you believe that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead, and you want to trust Him for your Salvation today, please pray with me this simple prayer: Holy Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. I am sorry for my sins, and today I choose to turn from my sins. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. I trust Jesus Christ as my Savior and I choose to follow Him as Lord from this day forward. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.

If you believed in your heart that Jesus Christ died on the Cross, was buried, and rose again, allow me to say, congratulations on doing the most important thing in life and that is accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour! For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door”. Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”

If you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior today, please email me at dw3@gospellightsociety.com and let us know. There is some free material that we want to send you. If you have a prayer request, please e-mail that to us as well, and we will pray for you until you tell us to stop.

God loves you. We love you. And may God bless you.

Daniel Whyte III has spoken in meetings across the United States and in over twenty-five foreign countries. He is the author of over forty books including the Essence Magazine, Dallas Morning News, and Amazon.com national bestseller, Letters to Young Black Men. He is also the president of Gospel Light Society International, a worldwide evangelistic ministry that reaches thousands with the Gospel each week, as well as president of Torch Ministries International, a Christian literature ministry.

He is heard by thousands each week on his radio broadcasts/podcasts, which include: The Prayer Motivator Devotional, The Prayer Motivator Minute, as well as Gospel Light Minute X, the Gospel Light Minute, the Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message, the Prophet Daniel’s Report, the Second Coming Watch Update and the Soul-Winning Motivator, among others.

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Bethany Divinity College, a Bachelor’s degree in Religion from Texas Wesleyan University, a Master’s degree in Religion, a Master of Divinity degree, and a Master of Theology degree from Liberty University’s Rawlings School of Divinity (formerly Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary). He is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Ministry degree.

He has been married to the former Meriqua Althea Dixon, of Christiana, Jamaica since 1987. God has blessed their union with seven children.

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Published on December 17, 2018 21:11

LISTEN: The Scripture & the Sense: Jeremiah 27 (with Daniel Whyte III)

Daniel Whyte III reads the Word of God on a daily basis and give the sense of it based on an authoritative commentary source such as Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Bible. This podcast is based upon Nehemiah 8:8 where it says Ezra and the Levites “read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.” The aim of this podcast is that through the simple reading of the Word of God and the giving of the sense of it, the church would be revived and the world would be awakened.

Today we are reading Jeremiah 27.

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Published on December 17, 2018 17:45

LISTEN: The Story of Jesus and the Graveyard Demoniacs, Part 10 (Just Jesus Evangelistic Campaign, Day 632 since Jan. 20, 2017 / Day 999 since Jan. 1, 2016 with Daniel Whyte III)

Daniel Whyte III

TEXT: Matthew 8:34

34 And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.

——-

Adam Clarke said, “Many choose to lose Jesus Christ than those temporal goods by which they gratify their passions at the expense of their souls. They love even their swine better than their salvation.”

Horatius Bonar said, “Was there ever a request so sad, so fatal? Why was this? There was something in Jesus that drew them; but there was more that they disliked. They would like Him as the physician of the body, but not of the soul.”

John Trapp said, “This was as great madness, as to wish that they, because they had been scorched by the sun, might see no more of it. And yet how many are there at this day that cry out at this madness, and yet imitate it!”

Charles Spurgeon said, “It is specially appalling that a man should perish through wilfully rejecting the Divine salvation. A drowning man throwing away the life-belt, a poisoned man pouring the antidote upon the floor, a wounded man tearing open his wounds, any one of these is a sad sight; but what shall we say of a soul putting from it the Redeemer and choosing its own destruction?”

Most people who witnessed or heard of Jesus’ miracles, including the casting out of demons, welcomed Jesus with open arms. They were glad to receive someone who could effect change and meet needs without the condescending religious rituals of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Most people found difficulty accepting Jesus’ teachings; very few had a problem with Him healing the sick and casting out devils. But the people of the Gadarene city were so jarred by what had happened just outside their city gates that they decided they could not have Jesus entering their city.

Allow me to share with you a brief Bible study on this rejection from Ligonier Ministries:

Most, if not all, of the disciples have thus far not been privy to much of God’s great revelation about Jesus. They were not there when Joseph was told that his adopted Son would be of the Holy Spirit. Likewise, they were probably not present at His baptism, the occasion on which the Father declared Jesus His “beloved Son.”Having been absent when these things happened, it is understandable that these disciples are not yet fully aware of Christ’s divinity and have been left to wonder about the identity of this Nazarene.

Some of the disciples’ questions begin to be answered in this passage. After landing on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, the small band of men find themselves in “the country of the Gadarenes,” a region controlled by the town of Gadara, one of the ten cities of the Decapolis. This is an area inhabited primarily by Gentiles, and the two possessed men Jesus and His followers meet are foreigners to God’s covenant with Israel. We know this to be the case because pigs are being raised nearby, and no old covenant Israelite would ever be so closely associated with these animals.

Demons are driving the two men to violence. Ironically, these spirits reveal Jesus’ identity to the disciples when they beg the “Son of God” not to torment them before their time. Apparently, these demons know their time is short and that a day of judgment is coming. Per their request, Jesus sends them into a herd of swine, a sign of His authority over the Devil and a confirmation that the possessed men have been delivered. Unlike the other “exorcists” of His day, Christ dispatches the evil spirits with His word and not with some type of magical ritual. Such measures are unnecessary for the Lord of heaven and earth.

The region’s citizens should be grateful for this miracle, but the people only see a loss of income from the death of their animals. Seeking material prosperity at the expense of true life, these men implore Jesus to leave. Regrettably, Matthew Henry comments, too many “prefer their pigs above their Savior, and so come short of Christ, and salvation through him.”

Who do you care more about, people or pigs? All of us may be so concerned with our own livelihoods that we fail to serve other people and help those in desperate circumstances. In our pursuit of a certain standard of living we can overlook those who are in need even in our own congregations. Consider going to the leadership of your church and finding out how you may help those in need so that you may imitate Christ’s love for the oppressed.

Jesus, of course, showed his love not just for the demon-possessed men, but for the oppressed people of the city, by sending one of the men who had been cleansed of demons into that city to witness to them of the great things the Lord had done for him. The Lord can do great things for you today if you’ll receive Him.