Tag: leave

32.a. “Depart from us! We do not desire the knowledge of your ways.”

 

Matthew 8:28   And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” Now a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them. And the demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs.” And he said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters. The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, especially what had happened to the demon-possessed men. And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.

 Job 21:14   They say to God, ‘Depart from us! We do not desire the knowledge of your ways.

 Job 22:17   They said to God, ‘Depart from us,’ and ‘What can the Almighty do to us?’

 Mark 5:17-18    And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region.

 John 15:23-24   Whoever hates me hates my Father also.  If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father.

The work of Jesus had unified the whole city, and they had all come out to meet with and to talk to Jesus, but it was not in a good way. “Here was a whole city against their own blessing… Horrible was their decision, but it was heard, and Jesus departed out of their coasts.” (Spurgeon)

We would think that the people of the region would be happy that these two demon-possessed men had been delivered. Perhaps they were more interested in their pigs than in people. Certainly, the delivering power of Jesus did not make all men feel comfortable. (Guzik)

Their conduct directly from their lips…” leave, depart from our region”, makes me wonder what it is that causes man to reject things of God. Unbelief in God, unbelief in a living God, unbelief in an all-powerful God, unbelief in an ever-present God, unbelief in all-knowing God, comfortable in living after the flesh and reliance in their own power and will for their lives, and having no room in their heart or mind for things of God. They are content with their current way of life and do not see any reason to change. Could it be their prosperity, position, power, the comfort of life and not wanting to rock that boat in any way? 

Whatever the reason, they chose as individuals and corporately to ask the Son of God to leave them and their region. These people have seen first hand what Jesus had done and what the herdsmen told them…that the two demon-possessed men were no longer possessed and the demons fled into a herd of pigs which after being possessed red off a cliff and died. They knew this. They knew something had transpired that no human could do. They knew that person was Jesus and they begged Him to leave. 

How many times have we read the Word of God and get uncomfortable with something we have read? How many times has the leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit been pushed out of our minds?  We may not specifically ask it to leave our minds but certainly, the rejection of it in our life is just the same as “leave, depart”. 

It is an intentional choice to proudly defend selfishness, reject, deny, turn away from, cast aside, go your own way, and disobey things of God. Likewise, it is an intentional choice to humbly surrender, invite, seek, desire, believe, trust, follow, and obey. Are you desiring and seeking or firmly asking all influence of God in your life to leave and depart?

28.u. “For I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content”

 

Philippians 4:11   Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

 Genesis 28:20   Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear,

 Matthew 6:31-34    Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.  But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

 Hebrews 13:5-6   Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

 1 Timothy 6:6-9   But godliness with contentment is great gain,  for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.  But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.  But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

How do we know contentment, happiness, satisfaction, fulfillment, peace in all circumstances? Where is it to be found? How is it demonstrated? When our circumstances place us in a time of prosperity and plenty we think this is how and where we find contentment. Not true at all.  Ease of life, prosperity, abundance, peace, and comfort is no guarantee of contentment.  In fact, it is where neglect and complacency of God’s Word, more times than not, takes place in our lives. Think about a trial or troubled time in your life.  Did you grow closer to God and seek Him more fervently?  Was your trust and belief in Him alone firm and trusting?  Did you come to a place where you were beyond self-reliance or reliance on others and placed your heavy burden into His hands, relying on Him alone? Did you experience contentment and peace placing it in His hands?   Godly contentment, happiness, satisfaction, fulfillment, and peace are not based on the circumstances of life.  They reside in our hearts and minds. It is when we surrender and yield our lives, days, minutes, and seconds of every day to the will and purpose of God, knowing and trusting in Him alone, and where we live seeking and desiring all we think, say, and do for the single purpose of honoring and glorifying Jesus Christ, is where we find contentment.  Paul learned it.  He lived trusting God was in total control of everything.  Whatever situation, in plenty and in want, Jesus strengthened Him. If our commitment is shallow and surrender of self to the purpose and will of God each day is non-existent, we will find ourselves missing out on contentment, happiness, fulfillment, satisfaction, and peace.

The entrance and unfolding of His word

“Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight.”

“Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Psalms 119:129   Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them.  The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.  I open my mouth and pant, because I long for your commandments.  Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is your way with those who love your name.  Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me.  Redeem me from man’s oppression, that I may keep your precepts.  Make your face shine upon your servant, and teach me your statutes.  My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your law.

Proverbs 6:23     For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,

Luke 1:77-79   to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins,  because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Acts 26:18     to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

2 Corinthians 4:4    In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Ephesians 5:13-14     But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible,  for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

2 Peter 1:19    And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,

Proverbs 1:22-23    “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?  If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.

2 Timothy 3:16-17     All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,  that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

“Let us not enter into the testimonies, as a dry task, or an ordinary study; but let us concentrate our minds, our faith, humility, and prayer, in a more devoted contemplation of them.” (Bridges)

“obedience in more than outward action; it was obedience in soul.”

“It is painful to remember how much light may be shining around us on every side, without finding an entrance into the heart.” (Bridges)

“The word finds no entrance into some minds because they are blocked up with self-conceit, or prejudice, or indifference; but where due attention is given, divine illumination must surely follow upon knowledge of the mind of God.” (Spurgeon)

Connecting the Dots

“But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.”

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”

“So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

Malachi 2:13  And this second thing you do. You cover the LORD’s altar with tears, with weeping and groaning because he no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor from your hand. But you say, “Why does he not?” Because the LORD was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth. “For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the LORD, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the LORD of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.”

2 Corinthians 6:18  and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”

Deuteronomy 7:4     for they would turn away your sons from following me, to serve other gods. Then the anger of the LORD would be kindled against you, and he would destroy you quickly.

Jeremiah 2:21   Yet I planted you a choice vine, wholly of pure seed. How then have you turned degenerate and become a wild vine?

1 Corinthians 7:14    For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.

Ephesians 6:4   Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Proverbs 4:23   Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

Malachi was speaking to men about connecting the dots between their lack of not being blessed and their actions.  You come weeping and groaning to God and ask why are you not blessing us.  It is because your offerings are not acceptable because actions in your life are not acceptable.  In this scripture it speaks of men who divorces his wife for no other reason than to follow the lust of his flesh for someone new.  The connection between our thoughts and actions and God’s blessings should be understood.  If we choose to neglect His word and if we choose to desire more the things of this world than to serve Him we soon are on a path quickly away from Him.  This path leads us in a direction to where God’s blessings do not flow. Keep your heart desire pure for God and His word and the application of it in your life.  Our purpose this side of eternity is to humbly serve, honor, follow and obey God. Blessings of peace, comfort, joy, love, grace, mercy, healing, strength, power and patience come to those who keep their heart with vigilance for Him alone.