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

In Matthew 9:9-13, Jesus called Matthew and said come follow Me. Jesus had looked upon Israel and saw a flock of sheep without a shepherd. He said, I came to seek and to save that which was lost. Matthew followed Jesus. He invited Jesus to supper. When Jesus went, Matthew had gathered his friends, which were publicans and prostitutes, sinners. The scribes and pharisees fused at the disciples that Jesus had entered the house of sinners. Jesus said, the whole don’t need a physician, but those that are sick. And He said, I will have mercy instead of sacrifice. Because with God, mercy triumphs over judgement. As we walk on this earth, God wants us to be merciful. Jesus said, if a person strikes you on your cheek, turn and let him strike the other. Christians have struggled with this not wanting people to take advantage of us. But God wants his mercy seen by others to know that God loves us. And there is hope for a better life. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. (Rom.9:15).

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Jesus had gone across the sea of Galilee to the people of the tribe of Gad. There were one of the 12 tribes of Israel. They didn’t cross over the Jordan river into the land of promise. Jesus had returned to Capernaum. There was a man sick of the palsy, lying on his pallet. Jesus saw his faith and said to him, thy sins are forgiven. Some scribes and pharisees began to complain about Jesus. Jesus knew what was in their hearts and said to the man with palsy, rise, take up thy pallet and go home. Jesus did this to show them that God have given Him the power to forgive sin. The scribes and pharisees had the same problem as the Gadarenes. They refused to cross over into the Promise Land. Because they refused, they lost their inheritance from God. This is what happens to anyone who refuses to accept Jesus and return to the Land of Promise, heaven.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

The children of Israel, after wandering in the wilderness, reached the Jordan river. Two tribes refused to go into the Promised Land, Manasseh and Gad. They saw that the lands on the east side of the Jordan river were good for their cattle. Moses tried to persuade them to go in. Their names and position in the kingdom were lost in time. When Jesus and the disciples entered the ships to cross over the sea of Galilee, He knew where He was going. It was called the land of the Gadarenes. They landed and began to walk toward Gadara. Two men possessed of the devil, came and fell down in front of Jesus. They worshipped Him. Jesus didn’t let them say who He was. The devils asked Jesus to cast them into the herd of swine that was nearby. Jesus said, go. They entered the pigs and the whole herd ran off the cliff into the sea and drowned. The two men were now free and in their right minds. The whole town came out and asked Jesus to leave. God gave us opportunity to enter in and it is up to us to respond. God gave the Gadarenes opportunity twice to enter in and they refused. They were lost to their place in Israel. Entering in is how we will find our place with God. (Matthew 8:28-34).

PS. Jesus sent the two men back to their people to preach the gospel.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

When I began to walk with the Lord, I had the measure of faith, but didn’t know what to do with it. As I prayed, God would show me challenges. I had to use my faith to resolve the issue. At first, they were small. Then they became greater as I grew in the knowledge of the word of God. But I had to use my faith for God to intervene. In Matthew 8:24-27, Jesus and the disciples entered into a ship to cross the sea of Galilee. It’s about 30 miles across, which would take several hours rowing. A storm arose on the sea. It was so violent the the waves lapped over the sides of the ship. Jesus was asleep in the ship. The disciples became afraid and woke Jesus up. They said save us, Lord. Jesus rebuked them and said oh ye of little faith. Then He prayed and storm calmed down. The disciples were dumbfounded. Jesus had been with them for more than 6 months. The storm was not there to destroy, but to teach them faith. They had to us their own faith to stop the storm. How long have you known Jesus? So, what is your excuse? Storms are here to strengthen your faith, but you have to use it.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Jesus was about to be crucified, yet He chose to comfort His disciples. He exhorted, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation: but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.” Whatever situation we find ourselves in, we can have peace through Jesus Christ. Jesus came to give us complete victory in life. Spend time with God in prayer and His word. All the promises of God are true.

In Matthew 8:18-22, Jesus was walking in Capernaum and a great multitude of people gathered. When teaching, you always begin with the less difficult then work your way up to the most difficult teachings. Jesus used familiar sayings so people would understand. But it take more than familiarity to understand. It takes the Holy Ghost to give us the answer. Disciples were telling Jesus that they will follow Him. In verse 20, Jesus said , but the Son of Man has no place to lay His Head. He had just left Peter’s house. So, He had a place to slept and eat. So, what was he talking about? Jesus was talking about dwelling in our hearts. They didn’t quite understand what He said. Jesus had revealed He was the messiah. Another disciple asked Jesus if could go and bury his father first. His father wasn’t dead. He wanted to go home and stay until he did die. Jesus said let the dead bury the dead. Jesus wasn’t being mean, but He only had a short time on this earth. And Jesus wanted people to put Him first before anything else. Some of Jesus’s sayings are hard, but doable. And without the Holy Ghost you can’t do them at all. Jesus is the Son of Man (Adam).

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com