“Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.”
Luke 7:22
“the lame walk”
Our vision of Him will cause us to encounter our own inherent lameness. The clearer we see Him, the more we realize the utter impossibility within ourselves to walk rightly. However, the vision imparted by the New Birth is filled with an indomitable hope in Him to heal our lameness so that we may, with determination, walk and follow Him.
“how that the blind see, the lame walk”
Vision determines our walk. Jesus touched one man’s eyes, and he saw men as “trees walking”. The blind man may have marvelled at this, thankful that he could at least see something. But Jesus did not stop there.
So it must be with us. In His work of bringing men and women into the Kingdom, He CANNOT allow a partial vision to linger! To be alive in Him necessitates a growing vision given to those who hunger and thirst for Him. An ever-increasing vision will compel an ever-changing walk with Him.
Stagnation is the fruit of complacency. When doctrines, beliefs, and teachings, determine our horizons, the impulses of faith grow faint and we no longer press into the reality of those things we hope for. Faith is the living wonder of Christ urging us to go one from “glory unto glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” 2 Corinthians 3:18.
It is a life that cannot linger in the affairs of this world. Its hope and focus is heavenly to those who live “by the faith OF the Son of God” (Galatian 2:20).
Running Water
Years ago, struggling with my own deep issues, the Lord spoke to me that it is only running water that cleanses itself. To stagnate or wallow in unbelief will culminate in the water becoming more polluted and contaminated. It is in these places that we must battle against despair and discouragement. Running water purifies itself!
His living Word keeps us moving, to continue to live by a faith that does not consider the present circumstance or experience as His end. My own faith was strengthened by the story of Jesus healing the lepers.
“And as they went, they were cleansed!”
“And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when He saw them, He said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.”
Luke 17:12-14
Notice that the cleansing came “as they went.” They were still lepers when Jesus gave them the Word to “GO.” The cleansing power of God is the fruit of our obedience of faith. Many linger and fail to experience His power, waiting first for the miracle instead of walking by faith. Faith is the victory. Faith does not need to see; it only needs to respond and comply with His Word.
There is a tendency to remain in our lameness UNTIL He does something. But such is not the language and way of faith. Faith imparts movement; it needs no evidence of change, for the eyes of faith are fixed on Him, not our present condition.
Tell My people to go forward!
As Moses and the Israelites followed the cloud of the glory of God, they found themselves trapped by the Red Sea on one side and the armies of Pharoh on the other. The situation looked hopeless and Moses cried unto the Lord. What was God’s response?
“The LORD said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me?
Tell the people of Israel to go forward…”
Exodus 14:15
May the Lord impress upon us the secret of His ways. Let us not limit Him by our unbelief and despair. “Tell MY people to go forward.” There was no opening in the sea and no visible path, yet God spoke, and the way opened AS THEY MOVED FORWARD.
Obey and Behold His Work
Once, in a very busy restaurant, the Lord gave me a word to give to a young man who was cleaning tables. The restaurant was so crowded, and I did not want to make a spectacle of myself or of him. Yet the impress was strong and after struggling for a bit I finally got up to obey. As soon I stood up he happened to go into the foyer area where no one else was and I was able to give him the word discreetly.
May we grow in our trust and not regard our state or condition. Allow our God to use the weak and the foolish things (us) to accomplish His Will by walking in His Way.
“then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert”.
Isaiah 35:6 (ESV)
Related Posts in this Series:
The Work of Jesus – The Blind See
The Work of Jesus – Spiritual Vision
(To be continued)
Brian Troxel
Beloved brother Brian, much thanks for this excellent word from the eternal, living Word, holy and merciful, compassionate, faithful, and true.
I would like to add what I hope and trust is more than merely my two cents worth.
Prevailing prayer is the Christ cry and closest communion in the current circumstances of the honest, hungry heart for the holy, to realize evermore existentially, experientially one’s self in God for God’s glory, and by God’s grace and glory, generously for the greater good and ultimate progress of others, temporally, but especially eternally.
To you and all your readers, burning blessings of Jesus’ boundless beauty in your being and intimate, ravishing blessings of loving affection from His holy heart as Lord of history and King of heaven.
When we are obedient to the Lord we don’t have to worry about what we will say, how or where we are going to say it. God just wants us to trust him and move when the Spirit urges us. He will do the rest.🙌
“Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth. And the LORD said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.” (Jeremiah 1:9:)
“And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious beforehand how to defend yourselves or what to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” (Luke 12:11-12)
Blessings BT…