CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – “Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” (Mark 9:23).

The phrase “if you”, as it applies to you (and me) as a disciple of Jesus, appears one hundred twenty-four times in the English Standard Version (ESV) of the New Testament.

First, we will be confronted with various situations and circumstances from the Bible and, we will discover how we are to respond in these examples. Secondly, I have personalized (rephrased) our study verses for you to memorize. By this, we can bring the Gospel to life as we go and defeat sin along our way.

Today we, as Christians, are confronted with questions about how we should deal with matters such as illnesses, demons, faith, forgiveness, healing.

Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” (Mark 9:23).

IN CONTEXT

‘”And one person from the crowd answered Him, “Teacher, I brought You my son, because he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak; and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground, and he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes stiff. And I told Your disciples so that they would cast it out, but they could not do it.”

 “And He answered them, “O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!” And they brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, the spirit immediately threw him into convulsions, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth.

“And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to kill him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” But Jesus said to him, ‘If You can?’ All things are possible for the one who believes.”

“Immediately, the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief!”

 “When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again!”

 “And after crying out and throwing him into terrible convulsions, it came out.” (Mark 917-26)

 REPHRASED and personalized to memorize:

“Jesus, I know You can, can do all things. Have pity and help me!”

“IF I CAN?” – Jesus’ question to the father.

Oddly, in our text, the father asks Jesus to help him and his son, “If He can”. And, Jesus replies with an interrogatory, “IF I CAN?” The man immediately, and correctly, begs for help with his unbelief.

There are other times that doubt plagued even the disciples:

“But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated to them. And when they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful.” (Matthew 28:17). But Jesus sent them anyway.

“But Thomas, one of the twelve, who was called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. So, the other disciples were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.

“Eight days later His disciples were again inside, and Thomas was with them. Jesus *came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be to you.” Then He *said to Thomas, “Place your finger here, and see My hands; and take your hand and put it into My side; and do not continue in disbelief, but be a believer.” Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:24-29). But Jesus showed Thomas anyway and helped him is his disbelief.

Dear Friends, let’s always remind each other, that “it is with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” (see Romans 10:10).

Say it. Believe it. Do it!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

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PREVIOUS:  CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – “If you have faith and do not doubt” – Matthew 21:21.

CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION –  “And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen.” (Matthew 21:21)

The phrase “if you”, as it applies to you (and me) as a disciple of Jesus, appears one hundred twenty-four times in the English Standard Version (ESV) of the New Testament.

First, we will be confronted with various situations and circumstances from the Bible and, we will discover how we are to respond in these examples. Secondly, I have personalized (rephrased) our study verses for you to memorize. By this, we can bring the Gospel to life as we go and defeat sin along our way.

Today we, as Christians, are confronted with questions about how we should deal with matters such as usefulness and uselessness, miracles, faith, doubt, authority over circumstances, effective productive prayer.

 “And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen.” (Matthew 21:21)

IN CONTEXT

“In the morning, as he was returning to the city, he became hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once.

“When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither at once?”

And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” (Matthew 21:18-22)

REPHRASED and personalized to memorize:

“When I saw it, I marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither at once?”

And Jesus answered me, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” (Matthew 21:18-22)

WHAT YOU BELIEVE YOU KNOW vs WHAT JESUS SAYS

Herein lies what I will call, ‘the line of contention’. The Bible and Jesus say one thing, and our denominational teachings say quite another – either in disbelief or in going too far. Looking at these matters as it is ‘one way or another’ could be aptly named ‘a binary trap’, from which there is no escape.

BALANCE

Very few people would dare say Jesus approached life and spiritual matters with a balance between earthly means and ways, while staying true to His nature as God.

Jesus was both man and God, and He lived both the aspects of His earthly nature and His Divine nature to their absolute fullest.

And, so should we live both our natures – our human nature, as it is controlled by our ‘new birth spiritual nature’ to the absolute fullest. Our balance is only found in Jesus.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

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PREVIOUS:  CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – “If you want to be perfect,” (Matthew 19:21)

CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – The phrase “if you”, as it applies to you (and me), as the reader and disciple of Jesus, appears one hundred twenty-four times in the English Standard Version (ESV) of the New Testament. First, we will be confronted with various situation and circumstances from the Bible and, we will discover how we are to respond in these examples. Secondly, I have personalized (rephrased) our study verses for you to memorize. By this, we can bring the Gospel to life as we go and defeat sin along our way.

Matthew 12:7, “And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.”

Today we are confronted with questions about putting traditions and religious ritual law above necessity, justice and mercy, mercy versus sacrifice, condemning the guiltless and the innocent.

Matthew 12:1, “At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. Verse 2. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.”

 Verse 7. And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. Verse 8. For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”

REPHRASED and personalized to memorize:

Matthew 12:1, “At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. Verse 2. But when the Pharisees and I saw it, we said to Him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.”

 Verse 7. And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. Verse 8. For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”

Dear friends, it may not be grain fields we find ourselves dealing with, but it is about putting religious traditions and rituals above the needs of the guiltless and innocent. We are to Show justice through mercy, Christian community over legalism.

“The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27).

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT:  https://whitestone2020.com/2023/06/27/christian-ethos-in-action-if-you-have-faith-as-a-mustard-seed-matthew-1720/

PREVIOUS:  https://whitestone2020.com/2023/06/20/christian-ethos-in-action-and-if-you-are-willing-to-receive-it-he-is-elijah-who-is-to-come-matthew-1114/

“Christian Ethos in Action”. The phrase “if you”, as it applies to you (and me), as the reader and disciple of Jesus, appears one hundred twenty-four times in the English Standard Version (ESV) of the New Testament. First, we will be confronted with various situation and circumstances from the Bible and, we will discover how we are to respond in these examples. Secondly, I have personalized (rephrased) our study verses for you to memorize. By this, we can bring the Gospel to life as we go and defeat sin along our way.

Matthew 7:11 – If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

Today we are confronted with questions about our evil nature, about asking God in prayer through seeking, knocking, finding, giving good gifts and finally, about how to treat others through it all.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

“So, whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

REPHRASED and personalized to memorize:

“If I ask, it will be given to me; seek, and I will find; knock, and it will be opened to me. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. If my son asks me for bread, will I give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will I give him a serpent?

If I then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to my children, how much more will my Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

“So, whatever I wish that others would do to me, I will do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Let’s please remember that when we give, it will be given back to us. And a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will also be put into your lap. For with the same measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” (see Luke 6:38).

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PS:  Living the Christian ETHOS leads to a full and abundant life. It is the way and the life that Jesus teaches and models. Let’s just do it.

NEXT:  https://whitestone2020.com/2023/06/20/christian-ethos-in-action-and-if-you-are-willing-to-receive-it-he-is-elijah-who-is-to-come-matthew-1114/

PREVIOUS:  https://whitestone2020.com/2023/06/18/christian-ethos-in-action-if-you-forgive-others-of-their-trespasses-matthew-67-15/

“Christian Ethos in Action”.

“Christian Ethos in Action”. The phrase “if you”, as it applies to you (and me), as the reader and disciple of Jesus, appears one hundred twenty-four times in the English Standard Version (ESV) of the New Testament. First, we will be confronted with various situation and circumstances from the Bible and, we will discover how we are to respond in these examples. Secondly, I have personalized (rephrased) our study verses for you to memorize. By this, we can bring the Gospel to life as we go and defeat sin along our way.

Today we are confronted with empty prayer, trespasses, forgiveness, God, heaven, temptations, and avoidance of evil. Let’s begin.

Matthew 6:14 – “For if you forgive others of their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”

Matthew 6:7-15, “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

REPHRASED and personalized to memorize:

Matthew 6:7-15, “And when I pray, I will not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. I will not be like them, for my Father knows what I need before I ask him. I will pray then like this:

“My Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give me this day my daily bread,
and forgive me of my debts,
as I also have forgiven my debtors.
And lead me not into temptation,
but deliver me from evil.

For if I forgive others their trespasses, my heavenly Father will also forgive me, but if I do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will my Father forgive my trespasses.”

Please, let’s confess our sins to one another and pray for one another, that we may be healed. Remembering that the prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT:  https://whitestone2020.com/2023/06/19/christian-ethos-in-action-if-you-being-evil-know-how-to-give-good-gifts-to-your-children-matthew-77-12/

PREVIOUS:  https://whitestone2020.com/2023/06/17/christian-ethos-in-action-if-you-love-those-who-love-you-what-reward-do-you-have-matthew-543-48/

“Christian Ethos in Action”. The phrase “if you”, as it applies to you (and me), as the reader and disciple of Jesus, appears one hundred twenty-four times in the English Standard Version (ESV) of the New Testament. First, we will be confronted with various situation and circumstances from the Bible and, we will discover how we are to respond in these examples. Secondly, I have personalized (rephrased) our study verses for you to memorize. By this, we can bring the Gospel to life as we go and defeat sin along our way.

Today we are confronted with love, hate, neighbors, enemies, prayer, persecution, good, and evil. Let’s begin:

Matthew 5:46 – For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love (ag-ap-ah’-o; to love; wish well to, take pleasure in, long for; denotes the love of reason, esteem) your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect (tel’-i-os; having reached its end, complete, perfect; (a) complete in all its parts, (b) full-grown, of full age, (c) especially of the completeness of Christian character), as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:43-48)

REPHRASED and personalized to memorize:

“I have heard that it was said, ‘I shall love my neighbor and hate my enemy.’ But I say I must love my enemies and pray for those who persecute me, so that I may be a son of my Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if I love those who love me, what reward do I have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if I greet only my brothers, what more am I  doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? I am, therefore, must be perfect, as my heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:41-48)

“It is for freedom’s sake that we are being made free”.

Please, let’s pray for one another along this way.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT: https://whitestone2020.com/2023/06/18/christian-ethos-in-action-if-you-forgive-others-of-their-trespasses-matthew-67-15/

PREVIOUS:  https://whitestone2020.com/2023/06/16/christian-ethos-in-action-if-you-bring-your-gift-to-the-altar-matthew-523-26/