April 11, 2021

OF A CLIQUE – HOW ARE YOU TREATING YHWH?

To God Almighty be the Power, and the Honor and the Glory forever and ever Amen!

© 1997 Anna M. K. Hazen

This is another hard teaching that God gave me as a result of my life’s disappointments, when I was attending a certain church. He showed me so much while I was studying and writing this. This teaching is inspired by the Holy Spirit. I know it will bless at least some of you, but nevertheless… it is the Word of God. It is my strongest desire to teach and admonish only in God’s Love.

I put in just about all the scriptures so that you could conveniently read them herein. However… don’t take MY word for it….. study them for yourselves… in your own Bible… I use the King James Version as, at the time of this writing, it is the closest to the original text.

It is a long teaching… about as long as if you were in church listening to your pastor’s sermons at church on Sunday.

Shall we begin!? Open your Bibles (and concordance) and enjoy!

John:49-50 And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in your name, and we forbade him because he follows not with us. And Jesus said unto him, forbid him not, for he that is not against us is for us.

John must have thought that unless you were one of the twelve disciples, you were not permitted to perform miracles in the name of Jesus Christ. Was he wrong, or what?! Jesus was very adamant about loving everyone and about including all people in the church activities… And those who believed in Him were to be included into the fold – no matter who they were!

Matthew 5:44-48 But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you; that you may be the children of your Father which is in Heaven; for He makes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and the unjust. For if you love them which love you, what reward have you? Do not the publicans the same? And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more than others? Do not even the publicans so? Be you therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect.

…and NOT disallowing people, simply because they don’t belong to your little group or “clique”, as I will put it, or come up to YOUR expectations. A clique is a small, exclusive circle of people; snobbish or narrow coterie (a close circle of friends who share a common interest or background).

One example Jesus shared to teach this principle, was the story about the Good Samaritan.

Luke 10:30-32 And Jesus answering, said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped Him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side (he crossed the street to get away from him). And likewise, a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

Both of these supposed “holy” men, found the injured man but didn’t bother to stop and help him because they did not want to “get involved” with someone else’s problems. And probably, because he has no raiment on that would tell them from where he was, for the thieves had taken them.

:33-37 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds pouring oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow, when he departed, he took out two pence (about 30 cents in that day) and gave them to the host, and said unto him, take care of him; and whatsoever you spend more, when I come again, I will repay you.

Now here is someone, possibly a businessman, who took the time and money and took care of this injured man. He didn’t care where he was from, or who he was, or what group he belonged only that he was hurt and naked.

:36 Which now of these three, think you, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do you likewise.

Jesus also says that He has other sheep that are not in the Israeli or Jewish fold, but that they are just as important as the Jews. We will study these later in the text.

John 10:16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be ONE FOLD, and ONE SHEPHERD.

Let’s look at the diverse numbers Jesus was involved with:

ONE: John

To some of us, it may seem that Jesus had a “clique” of His own. And in a sense, at that time, He did, out of necessity to teach us. Note that these one, three, twelve, and seventy were specially and specifically chosen for HIS service. It is accepted by this author, that the closest (or best friend) of Jesus was John, the son of Zebedee; the younger brother of James’ and the beloved of Jesus.

John 13:23-24 Now, there was, leaning on Jesus’ bosom, one of His disciples, whom Jesus Loved. Simon Peter therefore, beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom He (Jesus) spoke.

It is also this John to whom Jesus told to take care of His mother after His death:

John 19:26-27 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple standing by, whom He loved, He said to His mother, woman behold your son! Then said He to the disciple, behold your mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

It is also John whom Jesus gave the final Revelation to:

Revelation 1: 1 and 4 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to show unto His servants, things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John. I, John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the Word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

These afore mentioned honors, if you would note, were bestowed on none other.

THREE: Peter, James, John:

Then Jesus called three to show certain things to:

Matthew 17:1-13 And after six days, Jesus took Peter, James, and John his (James’) brother, and brought them up into an high mountain apart, and was transfigured before them; and His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment what as white as light. And behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with Him.

Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if you will, let us make here three tabernacles; one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

While he yet spoke, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; Hear you him.

And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore (very) afraid. And Jesus came and touched them, and said: Arise and be not afraid. And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them saying, tell the vision to no man until the son of man be risen again from the dead (hallelujah!).

And His disciples asked Him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come and restore all things. But I say to you, that Elias is come already (in the form of John the Baptist), and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. Then the disciples understood that He spoke unto them of John the Baptist.

Jesus gave this privilege of the vision to no one else save these three. Other examples of these spending quality time with our Savior are:

Mark 5:37 And He suffered (allowed) no man to follow Him, save Peter, and James and John the brother of James.

Mark 14:32-33 And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, sit you here, while I pray. And He took with Him (of all the twelve and of all His disciples that followed Him everywhere) Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy. And said unto them, my soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death; tarry you here and watch (wait here and watch out for the enemy). Then He prayed to the Father.

There are other scriptures that teach about these three, also which you can look up for yourself later. Search them out by name. I use Youngs and Strongs Analytical Concordants to the Bible, as well as other resources.

TWELVE
Jesus also chose twelve apostles (including the three mentioned above), to whom He showed and taught many things that we may be envious of them for. The apostles (the twelve) Jesus chose are mentioned in:

Matthew 10:2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Mark 3:13-19 And He went up into a mountain, and called unto Him who He would, and they came unto Him. And He ordained twelve that they should be with Him and that He might send them forth to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils; and Simon, He surnamed Peter, and James the son of Zebedee, and John, the brother of James, and He surnamed them Boanerges, which is the sons of thunder; and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed Him; and they went into an house.

Luke 10:23 And He turned Him unto His disciples, and said privately (to them), Blessed are the eyes which see the things that you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which you see and have not seen them; and to hear those things which you hear and have hot heard them.

These twelve men were called on a special mission. They were commissioned to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world, just as He was sent preach the good news of salvation by His Father, Adonai; God Almighty.

(A). And this He committed to faithful men, who He knew would be able to equip others also.

(B). Jesus trained them very intensely, in a concentrated seminar of three and one half years.

(C). These chosen twelve did their “internship” so to speak, while on the road with Him. They also were the ones who saw Him after He had been raised from the dead

(D), and interacted with Him during and after His time here on earth:

There is only one reason Jesus had to choose and anoint these special men

(A) Luke 4:18-19 and Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

And this (the good News) He commissioned to faithful men who He knew would be able to equip others also.

(B) 2 Timothy: 2:2 And the things that you have heard of me (that I taught you) among many witnesses, the same commit you to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

Jesus trained them very intensely, in a concentrated seminar of three and one half years.

(C) Matthew 10:5-42 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, preach this message: `The kingdom of heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep. Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave.

As you enter the home, give it your greeting. If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.

All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.

It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub, how much more the members of his household! So do not be afraid of them.

There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law– a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.

Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.”

These chosen twelve did their “internship” so to speak, while on the road with Him… you could call it “on the job training”.

(D) Matthew 28:16-20 Then the eleven (Judas was dead – he had committed suicide) disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Later, After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to the Eleven (Judas had hung himself by then) as they were eating; Jesus rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who said they had seen him after he had risen.

Mark 16:14-20 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it. Jesus, even now, confirms all the work and words that we say and do when they are according to His will and in His Name.

Luke 24:36-51 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate.

John 21:1-25 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberius. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!”

As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.

When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.”

None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.

Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of Jonah, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

Again Jesus said, “Simon son of Jonah, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

The third time he said to him, “Simon son of Jonah, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) When Peter saw him, he asked,”Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”

These interacted with Him during and after His time here on earth. So these are the twelve.

These 12 eventually went the way of all mankind. They died at their time. There are NO MORE apostles! So don’t let anyone tell you they are one!!! No one alive today has seen Jesus die, nor has anyone seen him rise from the grave or after! Only the TRUE 12 apostles did, and they are not with us today! I personally have been given visions, but that does NOT make me anyone special, especially an apostle! I just love Jesus and do as He commanded; to love ALL!

SEVENTY

Now we go to the seventy which Jesus included in His “cliques”. These seventy were called to be elders of the church, just as God had told Moses to choose seventy men of the house of Israel to be elders of the Hebrews:

Numbers 11:16, 24-25 And the Lord said unto Moses, gather unto me seventy men of the elders of the Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them into the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with you. So Moses went out and told the people what the LORD had said. He brought together seventy of their elders and had them stand around the Tent. Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke with him, and he took of the Spirit that was on him and put the Spirit on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but they did not do so again. (this was the only time they ever prophesied.)

Ezekiel 8:11 In front of them stood seventy elders of the house of Israel, and Jaazaniah son of Shaphan was standing among them. Each had a censer in his hand, and a fragrant cloud of incense was rising.

These seventy that Jesus chose, He qualified, ordained, and sent out two by two, after teaching them, to prepare a way for Him.

Luke 10:1-20 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before His face into every city and place, wither He Himself would come. (They were sent ahead to prepare the people for His coming)

Therefore said He unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray you therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He would send forth laborers into His harvest. (Other’s that would be able to preach His Gospel – and bring others into salvation.)

Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. Carry neither purse, nor script, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. And into whatsoever house you enter, first say, Peace to this house And if the Son of Peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the laborer is worthy of his hire.

Go not from house to house (stay in one place). And into whatsoever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The Kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. But unto whatsoever city you enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same and say, Even the very dust of your city, which cleaves unto us, we do wipe off against you; notwithstanding be you sure of this, that the Kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

But I say unto you, that that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city. Woe unto you Shoran! Woe unto you, Besthsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tire and Sodden, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes But it shall be more tolerable for Tire and Sodden at the judgment, than for you. And you, Capernaum, which are exalted to heaven, you shall be thrown down to hell (Hades [the grave] the word “hell” was added later by those who try to use fear tactics to keep the people in order!). (There actually is a pagan cave called “hell” in the middle east, where they worshiped their pagan gods and sacrificed children!)

He that hears you hears me and he that despises you despises me; despises Him that sent me. And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through your name. And He said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in Heaven.

I will cover this part briefly as there is a lot to learn in just this part alone. All these people were chosen by our Lord, to do His will. He did not permit them to consider themselves better than anyone else, but to teach others also what they themselves had learned, so that they too (those they taught), might become disciples, and go out and teach, and so on and so on… They were not to exclude people because of their race, or nationality, or their social standing or education, etc, but were to include ALL in their ministry (Before Christ’s death, these were to only go to the lost sheep of Israel. But after He arose, He told them to go to the farthest ends of the earth, reaching out to ALL nations; ALL people).

Jesus, in fact, took many “outsiders” into His ministry, not only to serve Him, but to help others also. When people are not “permitted” to be a part of a certain group – whether as “friends” or as a “class of people”, there comes in the temptation of the sins of jealousy, envy, frustrations and more.

Unless you have the Spirit of Christ within you to resist, you may find yourself caught up in “non-acceptance”. Another group may be a church “denomination”; ie: catholic, baptist, pentecostal, methodist… (you get the point…) within the so called “Christian churches”!

You may hear, “If you don’t BELONG TO MY denomination, or MY church, or BELIEVE THE WAY WE BELIEVE, then you cannot possibly be saved”. Or “If you are not baptized in MY church then your sins are not washed away ~ you are still a sinner!” The Bible clearly states… all throughout it that when you accept Jesus Christ, you are saved. PERIOD! One Baptism, one Lord for all and in all.

Romans 10: 9-13 That if you shalt confess with your mouth (say it out loud), the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, YOU SHALT BE (absolutely) SAVED. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation. For the Scriptures say (Isaiah 28:16; 54:5,7-13), whosoever believes on Him shall not be ashamed (disappointed in their expectations). For there there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek (Gentile; foreigner or stranger); for the same Lord over all, is rich unto all that call upon Him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved! Hallelujah!

Acts 15:7-9, 11 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, men and brethren, you know how that a good while ago, God made a choice among us, that the Gentiles, by my mouth, should hear the Word of the Gospel and believe. And God which knows the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as He did unto us; and put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. But we believe that through the grace of the Lord, Jesus Christ, we shall be saved, even as they. By this, we know that we are supposed to come together in agreement and pray, and encourage, and comfort one another, and teach one another the things of God.

Hebrews 3:13 But exhort one another daily while it is called today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

As we study God’s Word and act upon it, with our armor in place, we will grow in God’s grace and knowledge. Jesus, too, had to study and grow in God’s power and grace. Even though He IS Lord, in His humanity, he had to learn for our sakes. He spent much time in the temple asking questions and answering the priests, scribes and Pharisee’s questions.

Luke 2:46-47 And it came to pass, that after three days they (Jesus’ parents – Mary and earthly father, Joseph) found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions. And all that heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.

He spent a lot of quality time with His Father, Adonai, who taught Him, in prayer and conversation, and thus came to the point where He could teach others also. It took Him eighteen years of study from the time of his barmitzva at age 12, to gain public approval from man and from His Father, God. You could say that His “graduation” was His baptism by John the Baptist.

Matthew 3:13-17 Then came Jesus from Jordan unto John to be baptized of Him. But John forbade Him, saying, I have need to be baptized of you, and come you to me? And Jesus answering, said to him, Suffer (allow) it to be so now; for thus it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he (John) suffered Him. And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water; and lo, the Heavens were opened unto Him and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him; and lo a voice from Heaven, saying, this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.

Jesus could not begin His ministry until He went through the “graduation ceremony” of baptism. His “final exam”, or last training. His internship – (if you will allow me this) was the period of forty days He spent in the wilderness fasting and praying. Then being tempted of all things, by the devil, He put His education and training into action (He did His practicals ~ so to speak). Yet, even during the course of His ministry, He still has some things to learn as a human. His “final lesson” was learning to accept EVERYONE, even though they were not Hebrew. When Jesus went to Tyre and Sidon, (in what used to be Phoenicia; in Lebanon, down the road from Beirut), there was a woman, whose daughter was possessed with a devil.

Matthew 15:22-28 And behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto Him saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, you Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But He answered her not a word (He ignored her!). And His disciples came and besought Him saying, send her away; for she cries after us. But He answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the House of Israel. Then she came and worshipped Him saying, Lord, help me. But He answered her and said, It is not meet (right) to take the children’s bread and to cast it to dogs. And she said, truth, Lord; yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their master’s table.

This Phoenician woman was bold in her request of Jesus to heal her daughter. She realized that she was not of His “clique”, but a created human also and deserving of the same treatment He gave everyone else. She was very determined! She knew He had the ability to heal her little girl. She was, in essence, saying, “you can heal everyone else. How are we so different? I know you could do it if you wanted to”. This touched Jesus; the faith she had, so that He did heal her daughter that very same hour. Our Savior had learned from the Phoenician woman, and was now ready to accept people outside the household of Israel. One example occurred soon after this episode when He meet the woman at the well of Jacob in Samaria (in the West Bank in Israel.

Read John 4:6-26

The Jews and Samaritans had nothing to say to each other. The Samaritans were a mix of Jew and Assyrian peoples. And when Jesus spoke with her, He was going against all norms and worldly principles.

The story is: the disciples had gone into town to buy dinner, and Jesus was left alone, resting at the well. Here comes a Samaritan woman to draw her daily portion of water. Jesus told her to give Him a drink. She was totally surprised that He actually spoke to her… a woman, and a Samaritan at that!

He went on to tell her of the gift that He was making available to her; the freedom from sin, and salvation that He, THE GIFT would bring to the world.

In other words, he was “witnessing” to her. But she, being in the world’s way of living, didn’t understand. She was speaking of the liquid water, while Jesus was talking about the rivers of living water by salvation (John 7:38-39). He was saying to her, “it doesn’t matter what ‘clique’ you ‘belong to’. God wants you to worship only Him (Exodus 20:2-7). Don’t ‘half step the fence'” (Revelation 3:16). Samaritans worshiped God, but also had their false gods. Jesus was saying that even though salvation is of the Jews (by Him), God is looking for anyone who will worship Him in Spirit and in truth (John 4:24), no matter what city, race or culture you come from. He doesn’t look at these things. He looks at your heart (Psalm 17:3; Matthew 5:8 )

Jesus taught this principle again in:

John 13:1-15 After they had supper He began to wash their feet. But when He came to Peter, he (Peter) refused Him (Jesus) {vs 8}. He (Peter) told Jesus that He (Jesus) would never be his (Peter’s) servant. {got that?}

He spoke this in response: vs 25-27

…the kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them that are called benefactors. But you shall not be so; but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that does serve. For whether is greater, he that sits at meat, or he that serves? Is it not he that sits at meat? But I am among you as he that serves.

Among Jesus’ apostles were a Greek (Judas Iscariot, which means from K’Riot), a tax collector for the Roman government (Matthew), and simple businessmen and fishermen. When Jesus washed all their feet, He was showing them, that even though there are different cultures, races, people in business, as well as poor and rich classes of people, all who believed on Him (Matthew 19:25-29), were invited to the banquet of the lamb (Revelations 19:9) and none were to be treated any differently than they treated themselves. Jesus was our example by showing us how to accept everyone. He tells us that however we treat another, no matter where they are from, or who they are, that is how we should want them to treat us no matter what “clique” you belong to. After He finished washing their feet, He told them (in my paraphrase), “now”, he says, “show others the same service and love I have shown you”.

John 13:12-17 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me Teacher and Lord,” and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Jesus told His disciples, He had other sheep that were not of that fold, meaning that He was including other types of groups into His family as well. Watch the type of people God brings around you. You may be surprised and humbled to find that this is God’s way of revealing to you the kind of person you may have been to Him! He told the apostles to show the same respect to outsiders of the cliques as they show to each other; just as He had shown them. Then, they are to teach others to do the same; and not allow any man to despise them because of their youth, but be an example of and for believers in word, action, and conversation.

Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

The so called “Pastors” these days should take heed to those first words!

Jesus chose, within His group of apostles, a publican; a tax collector named Matthew. Let’s take a look at this fellow.

Matthew 9:9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.

This man, Matthew, just “up and went” with Jesus! He left everything he was doing. He walked out on his job, he left his family, and he left his “clique” of publicans. I want to explain something to you. Even to this day, publicans are noted to be a “dirty, low down lot” of people. The I.R.S. is a clique of publicans. They are tax collectors. You “owe them and you had better pay up or they will take your home, your family AND the shirt off your back to get what they say they have coming to them”. Right? Well, even in Jesus’ day, there was the I.R.S.. They were noted to be the notorious scum of the earth. In ancient Hebrew culture, if you even just accidentally bumped into a tax agent, you went home and burned your garments and took a bath! You definitely did not want a publican in your “clique”. Matthew knew this and possibly was just plain tired of it all. Even though he was an honest person, he was being shunned by the community. What did he have to lose? He followed Jesus.

Another example is Blind Bartimeus

Matthew 10:46-52 Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.

“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.

The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Here Jesus was with His apostles and a large audience. These were leaving Jerico, when this blind man starts yelling to Jesus, over the din of the crowd, to have mercy on him. You could think he was saying; ” I know I am not a part of your “clique”, but I do count, too”. And Jesus heard him! The crowd told this blind man to be quiet. They were saying, in a word, that “you aren’t good enough for Him (Jesus) to even notice. So why are you trying to bother Him? He’s too busy for you”. According to the crowd, he didn’t belong to the clique of “visually capable” people. But Jesus saw what was happening; when He commanded them to bring Bartimaeus to Him, they were flabbergasted! In their embarrassment, they covered their true feelings, and said to him, “well now, since the Lord is calling you, I guess we can accept you also. So be comforted and go to Him”. When he went to Jesus, expecting to receive something, he did. He was healed of his blindness!

Another record of Jesus’ acceptance of ALL, is in John 9:1-38. Please take time to read this in your Bible now.

In this record, this blind man was accepted among the community as a “regular” until Jesus healed him. Then, because he had left their little group and joined with another, they took him to the Pharisee’s. The law that they had made up was that if any were associated with this Jesus, they were to be cast out of the synagogue, which meant that they could not buy, sell or worship there, They were excommunicated from the “clique”. (Such as the different “religions” or “denomination” feel they can do to people today to whoever doesn’t agree with their doctrine.) After the former blind man’s confrontation with the pharisees, Jesus went looking for him (verse 35). He had something He wanted to tell him. When He (Jesus) had found him, Jesus introduced Himself and the man accepted Him as Lord and became born again (verse 38 )

Let us now look at the parable of the prodigal son, which our Lord Jesus gave to the Pharisees. Please read John 15:11-32 in your Bible.

In this story, the younger son, after he had spent his inheritance with his rich friends, ended up, during a food shortage (famine), feeding pigs. This was one sure nasty job. He was desperate though, and took the first job that came along. His greed to “have fun and enjoy life now, with the ‘upper class'” had cost him everything he had. At that time, God’s people were not allowed to eat or even touch this animal. They would be cursed. But this son was so hungry, he possibly felt he had no choice, because there were no other jobs available on the market. And there was a famine already in the land. After he had left his father’s home and ended up penniless, he didn’t care about the commandments or laws of God nor anybody else. All he wanted was to eat and have a place to lay his head. But yet there were laws…..

Leviticus 11:7-8 And the pig, though it has a split hoof completely divided, does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you. You must not eat their meat or touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you.

Hebrews 2:11 Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.

Romans 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

God’s Word clearly states: IF YOU DON’T LOVE EVERYBODY, THEN HOW CAN YOU SAY YOU LOVE HIM?

1 John 3:10-15 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother. This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.

1 John 4: 19-21 We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

James 5:9 Don’t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

If you have been blessed with wealth of this world, don’t begrudge those who haven’t. Remember, you have been given EVERYTHING from God, because He is the one who created everything, including that which you have. Man uses God’s creation to make and form the things which we have and use, decorate with, etc…

Psalm 89:11 The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth; you founded the world and all that is in it.

Jesus warns the wealthy not to shun the poor, lest they (the wealthy) end up like the rich man in his parable in Luke 6:24-37. Please take time now to read this in your Bible now.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD.

When I walk down the main street near my home, or downtown in my city, I see many people who are homeless, or hungry, without God and without hope. These people are all over the world. Not just overseas as we see those advertisements for help for them, but here, right in our own country, states and cities. And there are those in hospitals and nursing centers, who have no one that visits with them and they are so lonely and without God and without hope. There are those in prisons who need to learn about God and His abounding love, and the help and freedom only He can give. These are the people which God is telling us to reach out to with help and encouragement and financial assistance if possible. Yet, these are those whom we have excluded from our “cliques (I’m better than anyone else group)”.

We are not to shun people because they don’t belong to our little “clique”. We are to help them, teach them and love them. And we, who think we are spiritual, are to acknowledge the commandments of God and adhere to them bringing others to Him. We are to treat each other the same and also help the weak. We are not to argue with anyone, which could only cause more strife anyways, but quietly admonish them in God’s love. Don’t think you’re better than anyone else. You’re not.

Please take time now to read Roman 14:1-18 & all of Colossians 3.

It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is NO favoritism.

Matthew 25:31-46 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left”.

Then the King will say to those on his right, `Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit.

“Then the righteous will answer him, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' "The King will reply, I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

“Then he will say to those on his left, `Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

“They also will answer, Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' "He will reply,I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

Luke 17:3-4 So watch yourselves. “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, `I repent,’ forgive him.” In doing this we are following God’s commandments (by Paul) to gather together for worship and prayer, encouraging one another, especially those of the household of faith.

Hebrews 3:13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

At one time in our lives we too, have come short of God’s glory But when we repent of our fallen state of sin, naming that which we have sinned, to God (not to some priest behind closed curtains or doors), He (God) IS faithful and just to forgive us of those sins and take us back in love!

(Micah 7:19) He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and uou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

Romans 3:24 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

1 John 1:5-10 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

Micah 7:19 He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and you will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

I hope this has been a blessing to you!

Keep your candles lit and your lamps filled! The King is coming soon!

1 Comment

Comments are closed.