In Matthew 10:34-42, Jesus said, I came not to bring peace, but a sword. The word of God is a two-edged sword, that cut both ways. God says to be careful how you handle His word, because it can kill. This is the sword that Jesus is talking about. It will separate family and friends. But Jesus said, that the greatest problems you will have will be from your family. Jesus said if you find your life, you will lose it. If you lose you life for the gospel, you will find it. Then Jesus said if you recieve a prophet or righteous man, you will recieve their reward. The word of God is replete. It says if you cause someone to sin, it is your sin also. Jesus gave his disciples, which we are, instructions to be able to preach the gospel effectively. Now it is time to preach the gospel. Go out and remember what Jesus said and share with everyone that will listen. God will give the increase.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Fear can make us do strange things. Just look at the fear of the Corona virus. People hoarding toilet paper. God said that people are in bondage all the lives through fear. Jesus giving instructions about preaching the gospel, talks about fear. He said don’t fear those who can kill the body. But fear the One that can both kill the body and cast you into hell. In Matthew 10:28-32, Jesus said God takes care of the sparrows and knows when each dies. God numbers the heads of your head. Whosoever confess Me before man, I will confess before My Father. So, don’t fear. These instructions are for the believers. Jesus told them what to expect, but God requires of us. Preaching the gospel is one of God’s commands for us. As He said, be wise as serpents and as harmless as doves.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

People are looking for the signs of the times. And these signs shall follow the believers. Yet most people are not willing that this particular sign would follow them. What sign am I talking about? Jesus talked about this sign many times, but the disciples didn’t understand until they were in the midst of it. The sign I’m talking about is persecution. Jesus said if they hated Me, how much more shall they hate you. The servant isn’t above the Master. But he strives to be just like his Master. If you are doing what God told you to do, the world will want to kill you. Don’t think that it is strange that the world will hate you. In Matthew 10:23-27, Jesus instructed His disciples about what to expect. He was preparing for success. Understand, success is bittersweet. It is never all good or bad. It is somewhere in the middle. But understand persecution is one of the signs of the times.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In Matthew 10:16-22, Jesus was given instructions to the disciples about preaching the gospel. Jesus was sending His disciples out by themselves and they needed to know what to expect. He said I’m sending you out in the midst of wolves. But you are to be as wise as serpents and as harmless as doves. They will bring you the councils, governors and kings and they will kill you. If they hated Me, how much more will they hate you. All this is a testimony against them. Jesus said, take no thought what you will say, because the Holy Ghost will give you what say at that time. He said brother will turn against Brother, father against children, children against their parents. But he the endures to the end shall be saved. Jesus is warning us that in this world you will have tribulation. Because we go out into this world of wolves.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In Matthew 10:1-15, Jesus called his 12 disciples together. They were Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James, Thaddeus, Simon and Judas Iscariot. It had been about 1 1/2 years since Jesus had started preaching. He taught the disciples to pray and how to use their faith. Now this was going to be their first time to minister on their own. Jesus gave them instructions on what to do. They were to go to Israel only. God begins at our house first. They were to go as they were. No preparations. They were to use their faith and let God provide. They were to heal the sick, cast out devils, cleanse the lepers and raise the dead. Then Jesus said, freely you have received, freely give. Then He said if any city refused to receive, shake off the dust on your feet. And it will be better for Sodom and Gomorrha than that city. In Matthew 11, Jesus talks about the cities that refused to hear the gospel. The disciples were excited and afraid at the same time. Most of them were uneducated. But Jesus was proving a point, that it is God only that makes all things possible.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

I live in a farming community. I see the changing of the seasons and the harvest. There are 3 major crops in my area, crawfish, rice and sugar cane. The farmers prepare the fields each year, believing that their labor will yield a harvest. There is nothing so beautiful as a rice field ready to harvest. In Matthew 9:35-38, Jesus went about teaching about the kingdom. He lived in a farming community. The bible says He had compassion on the people, because Jesus saw the people as sheep scattered abroad without a shepherd. Then He talked about the harvest. Jesus said that the harvest is ready, but there isn’t enough laborers. He said pray therefore that the Lord of the harvest sends more laborers in the fields. Open your eyes and look. The fields are white unto harvest, everywhere. I pray that God will send more laborers into the fields. This is the heart of God, that all would be saved and none lost.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Jesus was just beginning His ministry. He had just healed the dead girl and she came back to life. His fame was spreading across the region. At that time, there were no doctors or medical facilities. If you had a disease or fatally wounded you died. Jesus began His ministry by healing people. His fame spread across Israel and Jordan and Syria and Lebanon. People with all sorts of ailments came to Him to be healed. And Jesus didn’t turn away anyone. On the sermon on the mount, there were 5000 men, not counting women and children. Capernaum may have had 500 people. The only thing that Jesus required was faith. He always asked each person do you believe I can do this? In Matthew 9:27-31, 2 blind men came to Him and said, thou Son of David, have mercy on us. Jesus said, do you believe I can do this? They said, yes Lord. Jesus healed them. They were healed by faith in Jesus. This is what moves God, faith. All things are impossible to man, but nothing is impossible to God.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

in Matthew 9:18-26, there are two examples of healing. A ruler of a synagogue came to Jesus because his daughter was dying. He asked Jesus to come and heal his daughter. Jesus was on His way, when a woman, as the bible says an issue of blood for twelve years, touched Him. She was healed. The only way that these two people received their healings is that they believed God. Faith is what moves God. Jesus didn’t even know that the woman was there until healing flowed from Him. Jesus turned to look for the person who had touched The heart of God. When He saw the woman, Jesus said thy faith has made thee whole. Faith is what God uses to restore man to the kingdom. Whether it is healing, deliverance, salvation or the baptism of the Holy Ghost, faith is what moves God. The Children’s Bread, Matthew 15:26.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In Matthew 9:14-17, a disciple of John asked Jesus why they fast and His disciples don’t. Jesus gave them an interesting answer. He said, the children of the bridegroom don’t fast as long as he is with them. Or do you put a new piece of cloth on an old garment or new wine in old wine bottles? Jesus said if you do, it will break and all is lost. Here He is talking about His death, resurrection and the infilling of the Holy Ghost. In 2 Cor. 5:17, behold all things have become new, the old is passed away. What He is talking about is us. We will be change into the image and likeness of God. Then we can take in the new wine, the Holy Ghost. God’s mercy is new every morning. He that has an ear let him hear what the Holy Ghost is saying.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com