Come to Understanding

Come to Understanding

They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding,

and they that murmured shall learn doctrine. — Isaiah 29:24

So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense,

and caused them to understand the reading. — Nehemiah 8:8

January 1, 2010
Volume 9 Number 1

Power Through Weakness

Before we try to figure everything out for ourselves and for this world, there is one thing we should know. It is God, not us, that is in charge. The way He works and the way He thinks is not they way we operate. That’s because His ways and His thoughts are higher than ours. That is why the world cannot comprehend the ways of God:

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says Yahweh.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. -Isaiah 55

He sends His word to accomplish His purpose. Whether it seems like it or not, His words will come to pass and accomplish the purpose for which they are sent:

10 For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and returns not there, but waters the earth, and makes it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

11 So shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. -Isaiah 55

Even though we read the promises God made in His word, many of us still cannot comprehend what He is telling us. We still look for physical ways to see and explain spiritual truths. When, for example, Yahshua (Jesus) took three of His disciples up into a mountain, He revealed Himself to them in a glorified body and even spoke with Moses and Elijah:

28 And it came to pass about eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.

29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his clothing was white and glistening.

30 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elijah: -Luke 9

Then, as He appeared in glory, He told His disciples a spiritual truth that was beyond their comprehension:

31 Who appeared in glory, and spoke of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. -Luke 9

Yahshua told His disciples that He would accomplish His "decease" in Jerusalem. The word "decease" is translated from the Greek word exodov (exodos), which is derived from two words that literally mean "the way out." He spoke of His departure from this physical world, but His disciples could not comprehend what He was saying:

32 But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.

33 And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said to Yahshua, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah: not knowing what he said. -Luke 9

Peter spoke of his own glory, looking to make a name for himself in buildings made with hands. He sounded like those who sought to build the city and tower of Babel:

4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. -Genesis 11

Finally, after His death and resurrection, Yahshua opened the understanding of His disciples, showing them that all of the Scriptures were fulfilled in Him:

44 And he said to them, These are the words which I spoke to you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

46 And said to them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved the Messiah to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. -Luke 24

Through death, the moment of greatest weakness for His flesh, Yahshua revealed the power of God because He still lives! Likewise, even though we also die in the flesh, we continue to live with Him through the power of God:

4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you. -2 Corinthians 13

Shortly after Yahshua appeared in His glorified body, He again demonstrated the power of God. Even though His disciples had tried and failed, He cast a devil (demon) out of a young boy:

38 And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech you, look upon my son: for he is my only child.

39 And, lo, a spirit takes him, and he suddenly cries out; and it tears him that he foams again, and bruising him hardly departs from him.

40 And I asked your disciples to cast him out; and they could not.

41 And Yahshua answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and endure you? Bring your son here.

42 And as he was yet coming, the devil threw him down, and tore him. And Yahshua rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father. -Luke 9

While a spirit of Satan had sought to destroy the boy, who was the only son of his father, Yahshua overcame the demon by the power of God. Yahshua then told His disciples, "Let these sayings sink down into your ears." He, like this young boy, would also be afflicted by the spirit of Satan, which would use the hands of men to try to destroy Him:

43 And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Yahshua did, he said to his disciples,

44 Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men. -Luke 9

Although He had shown them plainly that God demonstrates His power over the afflictions caused by the power of Satan, His disciples still could not understand what He was saying:

45 But they understood not this saying, and it was hidden from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying. -Luke 9

Failing to see that He would use His "decease" to demonstrate the power of God, they wondered among themselves who would take charge after He was gone:

46 Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest. -Luke 9

Looking to lift themselves up above others, they were still unable to comprehend that God, unlike man, displays His power through the weaknesses of the humbled. That is why He told them that those who receive Him as a little child will be great. God shows His power and glory through them:

47 And Yahshua, perceiving the thought of their hearts, took a child, and set him by him,

48 And said to them, Whoever shall receive this child in my name receives me: and whoever shall receive me receives him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great. -Luke 9

The same disciples, those who wanted to be the greatest, were unable to cast the demon out of the young boy. This is likely because they were seeking to demonstrate their own power and glory, rather than that of God. Yahshua promised that, as long as we ask in His name, He will do anything we ask so that "the Father may be glorified in the Son:"

13 And whatever you shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

14 If you shall ask anything in my name, I will do it. -John 14

Yahshua prayed shortly before He was to be crucified:

42 Saying, Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but yours, be done. -Luke 22

Even though Yahshua was troubled by the thought of His impending death, He was willing to do the will of the Father and fulfill the purpose for which He came, which was to glorify His name:

27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I to this hour.

28 Father, glorify your name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. -John 12

The name of the Father is glorified in the Son, who, coming in His name, fulfilled the prophecy:

26 Blessed is he that comes in the name of Yahweh: we have blessed you out of the house of Yahweh. -Psalms 118

Our prayers are heard and answered, as long as we are humble enough to pray according to the will of God:

14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us:

15 And if we know that he hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. -1 John 5

Yahshua taught us to pray, not for our own will, but for the will of our Father in heaven:

10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. - Matthew 6

It is in our weakness that we are most ready to submit ourselves to the will of God. That is when He demonstrates the power that gives glory to His name.

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Scriptures are taken from the Proper Name Version of the King James Bible.