–Pastor Ward Clinton
Are the Syian “refuges” a “Trojan Horse?”
Probably not because BHO is the real Trojan Horse and the so-called “refugees” are his “ponies.”
BHO consistently slams Christians, says don’t you dare judge Islam.. his modus operandi after every Islamic atrocity on American soil is to quickly condemn Christianity and Christians while cautioning us not to speak out against Islam.. He can be expected to speak up in defense of the religion he holds dear from his childhood against any attempts to properly label it based on thousands of “Isolated” incidents.
However, let a person that can, even remotely, be labeled a “Christian” do something wrong then he is swift to blame all of Christiandom as being guilty.
In BHO’s world, Moslems can do no wrong, and Christians need to be put in their place – and silenced.
Now is the time for all Christians to come to the aid of their fellow human beings and raise the standard of Christianity.
–Pastor Ward Clinton
Whenever He was in Capernaum, Jesus probably routinely resided at Peter’s house.
Having completed His preaching tour of the Galilean Synagogues Jesus now returns to Capernaum and probably to the house of Peter. The news of His return spread quickly so that in practically no time at all a crowd had filled the house to capacity and spilled out into the street.
To the western mindset this thing about digging through the roof sounds like major vandalism to the house but in all actuality it wasn’t. The house had a flat roof and there was a stairway leading up to the roof. A family could relax up there in the cool of the evening. After the four had let their friend down through the hole they had made and Jesus had done His thing the five probably repaired the roof, perhaps leaving it in better shape than before their arrival. The four friends had encountered a major obstacle and could have given up and said, “Well we’ll try again another day,” but they didn’t let the problems overwhelm them, they looked for and found a solution.
Injil Markus 2:2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.
2:3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.
2:4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.
2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.
2:6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,
2:7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God only?
In Jewish theology even the Messiah could not forgive sins and therefore they were sure that Jesus was committing shirk. However if He really is who He claimed to be then disbelieving in Messiah Jesus is the worst type of shirk of all. Al-Masihu-Isa (Jesus) is kalimat Allah and wadjih (worthy of esteem in this world and the next) according to the Quran.
2:8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?
2:9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?
Since they believed and were quite certain that a person’s sins had to be forgiven before they could be healed Jesus has chosen to force them to engage their brains. One of the purposes of the miracles Jesus did was to prove to the people precisely who this holy one of God, Jesus, truly is. He is the promised Messiah. There is no other like Him.
2:10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)
2:11 “I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.”
2:12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.
Jesus saw their faith, He may have smiled as he looked at a faith strong enough to overcome the obstacles and then He looked at the Scribes – the ones who should have had faith and He couldn’t help but be annoyed by those Scribes. Now, in part, these fellows were doing their job; they were scrutinizing this itinerant Rabbi to make sure his teaching was okay. But these were sitting there watching for what they considered to be the slightest mistake so they could blow it all out of proportion rather than allowing themselves to be moved by the working of God which they were privileged to see happening right before their very eyes.
The religious leadership made a connection between sin and disease, not entirely unfounded, but they were a bit misguided. To them a sick man was a man who had sinned. They had already heard Jesus preach; they had already seen Jesus heal. Still they seemed quite unmoved by all that they had seen and heard. Now, understand this, Jesus won’t allow anyone to remain neutral towards Him. You will be either for Him or against Him, your choice. If you choose wrongly, you will ultimately pay dearly for your choice. Know Jesus, Know Heaven.
He has decided to up the ante, therefore he said, “Child your sins are forgiven.” He has just challenged them head on with that phrase. They were of the belief that the sin had to be forgiven before one could be healed. But anyone is capable of saying “your sins are forgiven” and how can it be proven whether the statement was effective or not? Now on the other hand, to tell the man to get up and walk would demonstrate then and there the authority, effectiveness, and reliability of His word. Therefore in the tenth verse Jesus lets them know they have to make a choice to either believe in Him or disbelieve. He has hoisted these experts in the law on their own petard. It is on their own traditions and stated beliefs this man could not be cured unless he was forgiven.
In effect Jesus has said, “you say I have no right to forgive sins? You believe that if this man is sick, he is a sinner and cannot be cured until he is forgiven? Okay, then, watch this!” Jesus spoke the word and the man was cured, therefore he must be forgiven and Jesus’ claim to be able to forgive sin must be true. And a lot of eyewitnesses were there who couldn’t help but to laugh at their dilemma and to praise the God of Father Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He loves you and wants you to know who He is, and He asks you to live for Him.
–Pastor Ward Clinton
Injil Markus 1:40 And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
1:41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.
1:42 And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.
1:43 And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away;
1:44 And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
The sacrifices were to be evidence that the cure was real and that Jesus had respect for the law, the real law of God as opposed to the man-made traditions which were really a corruption to God’s law. The healing was also a testimony to Jesus’ divine power, since the religious leadership believed that only God could cure leprosy (see 2nd Kings 5:1-14)
1:45 But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.
In the Injil (New Testament) there is no disease regarded with more terror and pity than leprosy. When Jesus sent out the Twelve he commanded them “Heal the sick, cleanse lepers.” Thereby he demonstrates that God has compassion on men and women. (Matt 18:8) The fate of the leper in that day was truly hard. There were some other skin diseases which were mistakenly classified as leprosy such as ringworm or psoriasis and when they went away there was a prescribed ritual to go through to be declared “clean.”
The leprous person could not come closer than a stone’s throw to a non-leprous person and if they did people would typically react in fear and drive them back with stones. From Peter’s recorded perspective it appears the leper came closer than allowed but it is also likely he actually did not, only coming as close as he could before falling to his knees and making his plea. Whether he came closer than allowed by law or stopped short isn’t important; what is important is that Jesus cared enough to reach out and tenderly touch the untouchable one as well as completely cure. It was a demonstration of the one true God’s compassion; if we will only approach and humbly request He will bridge the remaining gap because He longs to establish/restore the fellowship that has been broken by the barrier of sin between an unholy being and the thrice Holy God.
Many a man on the face of this planet ignorantly and arrogantly thinks he will be able to approach God and plead the case that he himself is not so bad as some of his fellows and for that reason alone he must be allowed into heaven. Many a man thinks that so long as his good deeds outweigh his bad deeds then he must be accepted but that also is a corrupt teaching from sinful man. Sadly, he will be met with justice rather than mercy because he has chosen to act in pride rather than humility. It is only those who by faith apply to Christ Jesus for mercy and grace who will find that He is quite willing and capable of providing the mercy and grace they need and seek and he will bring them into the presence of the one true God.
Jesus then sent the man to go fulfill the prescribed ritual. We need not see this man as failing to obey, for he probably completed the task assigned except that he simply could not keep silent for the joy of deliverance. How can a sin-sick soul that comprehends the cure which has been effected by the power of such a gracious, loving God (yes, the one true God really does have compassion on us) be silent regarding the cure?
–Pastor Ward Clinton
1:34 And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.
The demons knew and understood Him to be the Messiah, the one true and holy Messiah; Isa, Al-Masih, is kalimat-Allah and wadjih according to the Quran and for that reason they were powerless against Isa.
Many that were possessed with devils – Dr. Lightfoot gives two sound reasons why Judea, in our Lord’s time, abounded with demoniacs. First, Because they were then advanced to the very height of impiety. See what Josephus, their own historian, says of them: There was not (said he) a nation under heaven more wicked than they were. See on Rom_1:1 (note). Secondly, Because they were then strongly addicted to magic, and so, as it were, invited evil spirits to be familiar with them. It seems strange to find men at this distance of time questioning the truth of that which neither scribes nor Pharisees then doubted; nor did they ever object against the pretensions of Christ and his apostles to cast them out. And, if the whole business of demonism had been only a vulgar error, (as “wise” men now tell us), what a fine opportunity had the “wise” men then, to unmask the whole matter, and thus pour contempt on the pretensions of our blessed Lord and his followers, who held it to be one proof of their Divine mission, that demons were subject to them! – Adam Clarke
It has been said, “Build a better mousetrap and the public will beat a path to your doorstep even if you live in the wilderness.” Unfortunately the crowds were only coming because they wanted something; unfortunately the crowds only thought they were coming to see a wondrous physician; fortunately the crowds were coming.
Sadly, for one prayer that goes up to the God of Father Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in days of prosperity ten thousand go up in times of adversity. Only prayers to the God of Father Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are of any value, prayers to any other god are useless.
Try Jesus, if you don’t like Him, the devil will always take you back.
Many a man who has never prayed when the sun was shining begins to pray when the cold winds come. So many people regard religion as belonging “to the ambulance corps and not to the firing-line of life.” Therefore religion, to them, is merely a crisis affair. Only when life has gotten into a mess do they begin to remember God, but it is in the sunshine times that we need to polish the communication lines so that when the darkness settles over us we don’t suddenly find ourselves trying to figure out how to establish a connection. God is not someone to be sought only in the day of misfortune; He is someone to be loved and remembered every day of our lives.
The god of Ishmael does not love you; The God of Father Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob loves you.
Although the recognition of one’s failure to come to Him during the sunny time should not be allowed to hinder the seeking of Him in the dark time – it is just so much better, so much wiser, and so much safer to remember Him in the sunny time when one may be assured of finding Him.
And healed all that were sick – Not a soul did the Lord Jesus ever reject, who came to him soliciting his aid. Need any sinner despair who comes to him, conscious of his spiritual malady, to be healed by his merciful hand? – Adam Clarke
Need any Muslim despair who comes to the God of Father Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? He loves you and wants you to know who Jesus really is; Jesus is the holy one of God who knows the true path to eternal life.
Injil Markus 1:35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
Away from the disciples and other distractions, He started His day in private communication with the one true God.
Injil Markus 1:36 And Simon and they that were with him followed after him.
1:37 And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee.
1:38 And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.
Simon Peter, upon finding Him, tells Jesus that people are starting to gather at his house again. Jesus informs Simon Peter that the gospel message must be taken to other towns also. His message is not to be confined to a single area, no matter how well received in that place. This would also give the people a chance to more carefully consider the gracious words they have already heard Al-Masihu-Isa speak unto them. As regards prayer; prayer doesn’t do our work for us; prayer strengthens us for the work that must be done.
–Pastor Ward Clinton
The God of Father Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob loves you.
Allah hates you
Choose wisely – they are polar opposites
–Pastor Ward Clinton
Jesus preached the good news of peace (Ephesians 6:15) The penalty of being a fallen human being is to have a split personality. In fallen human nature the beast and the angel are strangely intermingled. Man’s trouble has always been that he is haunted both by sin and saintliness. Robert Burns said, regarding himself, “My life reminded me of a ruined Temple. What strength, what proportion in some parts! What unsightly gaps, what prostrate ruins in others.” The coming of Messiah Jesus brings forth the cure for that disintegrated personality and enables victory over the warring self through being conquered and completely consecrated by The Christ.
Jesus preached the good news of God’s promise (Ephesians 3:6). It is true that men have always tended to think of God as a God of threats rather than a God of promises. Look at the way some say the God of the Old Testament was mean – it demonstrates they still fail to understand who God is. If you have eyes to see and understand, the God of Father Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob shows His mercy and loving-kindness even in the Torah. God’s grace (i.e. unmerited divine favor) is demonstrated in that portion of The Book, it is just much harder to see than it is in the latter portion which begins with the Gospel (Injil) accounts.
Jesus preached the good news of immortality (2nd Timothy 1:10). To the pagan and the Sadducees alike, life was the road to death; man was characteristically a dying man; but Jesus came with the good news that through Him we are on the way to life. Interestingly enough, the pagans that did believe in an afterlife had a rather dark view of what it amounts to. I have to admit that I am not too impressed with what the followers of Mohammad believe regarding the afterlife either. That is primarily because the god of the Koran doesn’t seem very trustworthy. But, of course, disbelievers in Messiah Jesus, as revealed in the Holy Bible, should have a dark view of what the afterlife will be like for them. The fact of the matter is that there was a time when you were not, but now there will never be a time will you will no longer be. Therefore, embrace, make friends with, the holy one of the God of Father Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob because, if you do not, this earth is as close as you will ever get to Heaven.
Jesus preached the good news (Ephesians 1:13) of salvation. Salvation is not simply liberation from penalty and escape from the consequences of past sin; it is the power to live life victoriously and to conquer sin. That makes the message of Messiah good news indeed. It is a shame that most followers of Jesus do not live and walk in the full victory of life available to them.
Jesus preached the good news of Repentance. Unfortunately, repentance is not as easy as we tend to think. The Greek word metanoia literally means a change of mind. That is part of the reason a new follower of Isa has such a difficult time trying to walk in holiness of heart and life; he knows he is a new creature, but he still has the old habits and needs help. Of course, it does not help when the tradition of certain men gets in the way by suggesting that it cannot be done. As for traditions, the earliest hadiths are only the result of traditions, nothing more, and created by men over a hundred years after Muhammad.
For the follower of Jesus, the Messiah, the trial that may lay ahead is never as strong as the power behind. The children of the world (disbelievers in the holy one of God) have no such guarantee. He, Jesus, is “wadjih” (worthy of esteem in this world and the next), according to the Quran. The Quran also says Isa is kalimat Allah.
Pray to the God of Father Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who sees, hears, and still speaks to us today and longs to demonstrate His great love.
–Pastor Ward Clinton
Purely evil cowards reflecting and demonstrating exactly who and what their god really is.
–Pastor Ward Clinton
–Pastor Ward Clinton
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