Tuesday, September 29, 2009

LITN VIII, Verses 16 - 39

16. Obviously, no one lights a lamp and then covers it up with a vessel, or crams it under a bed to obscure its radiance. On the contrary, a lamp is made to be lit and then fixed somewhere up high on a lamp stand, so that it may burn brightly to illuminate everyone who enters the house.




17. When the light is embraced, there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed...nothing concealed that will not be revealed.

18. So consider carefully how you listen...how you hear. See, it's not just what you hear that affects you, it's how you hear it. Your perception determines what you attract to yourself...in this way, those who have will be given more. By the same token, the way you hear can also repel certain things, and move them away from you, so that those who do not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them."
19. One day Jesus' mother and brothers came to see Him, but they were not able to get near Him because He was surrounded by a big crowd.

20. So someone came to Him and said, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to have a word with You."

21. Jesus replied to the man, "You know what? My real mother and brothers are those who hear God's word and put it into practice." And nothing more was said about it.

22. Another day He said to His disciples, "Hey, let's go over to the other side of the lake." So, without question, they all piled into a boat and launched out.

23. As they sailed, Jesus dozed off, and while He slept, a squall abruptly converged on the lake. In practically no time, the boat was being flooded, and they were in great danger of sinking.

24. The frightened disciples went and woke Him up out of His peaceful, undisturbed sleep, saying, "Master! Master! Don't You know that we're about to drown?" Without saying a word, Jesus calmly opened His eyes, sat up and rubbed them for a moment, and then stood up and told the wind to settle down. Immediately, the storm subsided, and the water became like glass.

25. Then He turned around and asked them, "Where in the world is your faith?...and went back to His nap. In fear and amazement they asked one another, "Who is this? He even tells the winds and the water what to do, and they obey him!"
26. After this they sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee.

27. And as soon as He stepped out of the boat, a madman under the influence of a rebel spirit came right up to him from out of the cemetery. This man actually lived naked, outside among the tombs.

28. But when he saw Jesus from a distance, the spirit controlling him recognized Him, as the spirits always did, and, crying out with a loud voice, the spirit spoke through the man. It said, "What business do You have here with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High? Why has the Son of God come here? I beg you not to torment me!"

























29. For Jesus had commanded the rebel spirit to release the man, because many times it had harassed him. And though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains, and had been driven by the dark spirit into solitary places.

30. Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" And the spirit responded simultaneously in the singular and in the plural, because in the spirit realm they are most always the same. And, mixing his pronouns he said, "'My' name is Legion, for 'we' are many in this man's life!"

31. And they begged him repeatedly not to order them back into the unseen realm.

32. Now an enormous herd of hogs was grazing there on the hillside while this exchange was happening. So "Legion" begged Him, saying, "Please, Sir, grant us permission to go to the hogs, that we may go into them!" So He did give them the permission, being fully aware that they could do nothing without it.

33. And the spirits left the man, and took control of the hogs. And the entire herd immediately rushed headlong down the steep slope into the lake, and were drowned in the water.

34. When those who were tending the hogs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this bizarre event in the town and all over the countryside,

35. and the people went out to see for themselves what had happened. And they came to Jesus and looked with amazement at the man who had been previously controlled by the spirits, just sitting there, clothed, calm, and completely lucid...the very same man who had been controlled by the Legion of spirits called demons...and they were seized with alarm and struck with fear.

36. Those who saw it firsthand told the people how the insane man...the man who seemed to be controlled by the spirits...had been completely restored to mental health and wellness.

37. Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because the whole thing was just too much for them...they were overcome with fear because of it. So He got into the boat and left.

38. The man who had been liberated kept begging Him that he might go with Him and be with Him...now worshipping Him on his own accord, and not under the influence of any other entity. But Jesus went away, saying,

39. "No, friend...you'll be more effective if you go home to your own family and friends, and tell them all that the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you. They need to see for themselves what has happened to you!" And the man departed and immediately began to publicly proclaim all over town how much Jesus had done for him.

10 comments:

River said...

Go tell it on the mountain over the hills and everywhere.
For all he's done for you go tell it.
Speak to your storm and see it calm down. (In the name of Jesus)
Then go tell it
That Jesus Christ is Lord.

Anonymous said...

From the CITN blog...

Freddie said...

God is Love

I was blessed to hear you, Bishop and Pastor D.E. talk about God and the fact that He is LOVE. That fact should allow us to tap into the Love of God that is greater than just unconditional. I feel we do God and His love injustice when we only speak of His unconditional love. Through Christ, He has demonstrated first that there is no conditon to His love because He is Love, however He has also demonstated that His love is sacrificial, submissive, undying and relentless. This love is totally inbedded in His Spirit that is why it is so important that we learn how to walk in the Spirit as the you and now Pastor D.E. are teaching from the depths of your spirits. Thanks for reminding me of who I am in Him and that His gifts and calling are irrevocable. I pray that God will bless the two of you with even a greater degree of walking in the Spirit.

Anonymous said...

Sherrie Whittaker Hicks said...

this lil light of mine...I'm gonna let it shine.....

Anonymous said...

Melissa Floyd Hall said...

I ♥ the word "illuminate"....such a powerful word...it "lights" up any sentence that it's a part of....

Anonymous said...

Love your paraphrase of verse 18: and verse 37 never ceases to amaze me.....

BTW. I was streaming Sun. Loved the Service! something really special happening there; wish it could continue....I wont forget " I'll take a half dozen; but I don't believe in that 6 stuff!" LOL! :)

wish I had more time...

Peace,
Dennis

Anonymous said...

I am so blessed to be a part of the wonderful things that are taking place here at CITN. The restoration that is taking place that most can not even imagine but by the spirit.Simple words like cousin and son are so healing. Also, having you Bishop, Dad Swilley, Judah and D.E. all on the stage. Then the moms chime in, was such a blessing for all.

I so support you and Pastor Debye in all your endeavors with CITN and thank you for allowing us all to be in it with you as you flow with the spirit and his direction.

Love you much
enjoying the paraphrase,
Debra M.

Anonymous said...

Your perception determines what you attract to yourself...

This is among the strongest of teachings throughout all religious systems and its thought is even rooted in the idea transferred in Genesis where the Creator tells the human that what ever they call something, that is what it will be. In Eastern systems the idea of Nirvana is a perception that is rooted in compassion leading the practitioner to perfect peace.

How can we convince the world to be attracted to peace? We can start by perceiving that they are.

Agree with Pastor Dennis on verse thirty seven, it is a wonder about just what made them perceive fear at the return of an insane person's sanity. It seems logical that a clear thinking person can see things around them more clearly.

Allow the perception of peace from within to illuminate your world and it is so and it is good.

Izumi/JOY said...

v.16 & 17 - wow... if George Lucas gets hold of this version, maybe we'll all be called Luke Lighthuggers.

Hey, I like it!

karl cobos said...

Luke 8 Verse 17:When the light is EMBRACED, there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed...nothing concealed that will not be revealed.

EMBRACING the light(God) is like when a husband and wife "EMBRACE", they are also embracing the reality that nothing is hidden or concealed, and they enjoy it, it is exciting, right?

...so when we embrace God(who is Light), let us enjoy the openness, the radiant light that reveals all.
I believe this Light reveals more of the hidden and concealed things OF GOD, as well as the GOOD hidden/concealed things of us or in us that He has already put there, we just haven't seen it yet.

Embrace light!..embrace God, you'll see more revelation of Him as well as the wonderful things He has already put in you...be excited about it.

Karl said...

EMBRACE His word (seed)v:11, and not your worries v.14

As life is conceived and held onto on the wall of the womb, enduring, it will bear "fruit" into the earth...so too, receive the seed (word of God to you) in the good ground of your heart, hold on to it in your mind and it will mature and also bear "fruit" into the earth. (see Luke 8:15)

It is your Father's desire that you bear "much" fruit today and He works with you to do just that.
May fruit be born today in your life that has already been growing and maturing, fed, and led by the Holy Spirit.