Question to Ponder...Jesus' Ability - Our Inability

[Diplomat]

In Christian theology, "The doctrine of the incarnation in Christian teaching is that Jesus, who is the second person of the Trinity, added to himself human nature and became a man. The Bible says that Jesus is God in flesh, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.....and the word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:1, 14); and, "For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form" (Col. 2:9). Jesus, therefore, has two natures. He is both God and man. Jesus is completely human, but He also has a divine nature."

For the umpteenth time I am studying the life of Christ and during my Bible Study last night, it occurred to me that during His ministry He did not have to pray for, nor did He have to speak the word to anyone or situation, twice. The deaf heard, the sick healed, the dead rose, the storm ceased, the fig tree died, the blind saw, all at the time when the word was spoken.

Given that He was in the flesh, baptized with the same Holy Spirit like some of us, and actually gave us the same authority He used, how is it He could do what He did and for the most part, we - little Christs - can't, or seem unable to? Your thoughts...

[sistagirl]

Re: Question to Ponder...Jesus' Ability - Our Inability

Hi CEW, we as little Christs often times underestimate the authority that Christ has given us...for ourselves. If we do know we have that power perhaps we don't know when to exercise that God-given authority. (I believe that comes from studying and listening to Gods word) It comes easier when our BOLDNESS in Christ is exercised on a daily basis. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

I only get to pop in these days but it's nice to see everyone [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[Kimoni]

Re: Question to Ponder...Jesus' Ability - Our Inability

Our inabilities come from years of polluting our souls/spirits with selfishness, greed, spite, envy, lust, lack of fasting, lack of prayer and or meditating. The acceptance or denial of these things have blocked our divine abilities.

[Dailybread]

Re: Question to Ponder...Jesus' Ability - Our Inability

Originally posted by CEW:
[qb] Given that He was in the flesh, baptized with the same Holy Spirit like some of us, and actually gave us the same authority He used, how is it He could do what He did and for the most part, we - little Christs - can't, or seem unable to? Your thoughts... [/qb]

I think that it could be that we know the power that is given us but we at times do not fully expect any results from it - DOUBT .

Jesus doubt nothing - of course knowing all things He did not have to. However,if we remove doubt from our minds in totality then we will come to be able to better exercise the power of God.

[Diplomat]

Re: Question to Ponder...Jesus' Ability - Our Inability

Originally posted by Dailybread:

Jesus doubt nothing - of course knowing all things He did not have to.

Are you thinking of Him in divine form, or are you saying that as a man like us He knew all things?

[Diplomat]

Re: Question to Ponder...Jesus' Ability - Our Inability

Originally posted by Kimoni-Kojo:

Our inabilities come from years of polluting our souls/spirits with selfishness, greed, spite, envy, lust, lack of fasting, lack of prayer and or meditating. The acceptance or denial of these things have blocked our divine abilities.

I do think that is a part of it but the other side of the coin are people who are trying to live their lives in accordance with the Word, yet are unable to show any evidence of their 'divine abilities' in their own circumstances or in that of others.

Could it be that Jesus knew the power of faith while some of us are barely scratching the surface? As DailyBread pointed out, He doubted nothing. Even as a man, there was no doubt in His mind that anything He asked the Father, it would be granted. Isn't that the same thing He told us?

[Guest]

Re: Question to Ponder...Jesus' Ability - Our Inability

Originally posted by CEW:
[qb] In Christian theology, "The doctrine of the incarnation in Christian teaching is that Jesus, who is the second person of the Trinity, added to himself human nature and became a man. The Bible says that Jesus is God in flesh, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.....and the word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:1, 14); and, "For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form" (Col. 2:9). Jesus, therefore, has two natures. He is both God and man. Jesus is completely human, but He also has a divine nature."

For the umpteenth time I am studying the life of Christ and during my Bible Study last night, it occurred to me that during His ministry He did not have to pray for, nor did He have to speak the word to anyone or situation, twice. The deaf heard, the sick healed, the dead rose, the storm ceased, the fig tree died, the blind saw, all at the time when the word was spoken.

Given that He was in the flesh, baptized with the same Holy Spirit like some of us, and actually gave us the same authority He used, how is it He could do what He did and for the most part, we - little Christs - can't, or seem unable to? Your thoughts... [/qb]

DOUBT

[Dailybread]

Re: Question to Ponder...Jesus' Ability - Our Inability

Originally posted by CEW:
[qb]

Originally posted by Dailybread:

Jesus doubt nothing - of course knowing all things He did not have to.

Are you thinking of Him in divine form, or are you saying that as a man like us He knew all things? [/qb]

It's hard to think of him as anything other than divine. Yes, as a man like us He knew all things.

[Diplomat]

Re: Question to Ponder...Jesus' Ability - Our Inability

Originally posted by Dailybread:

It's hard to think of him as anything other than divine. Yes, as a man like us He knew all things.

I agree with your first statement, but a careful study of His life suggests He was as human as it gets and while He was on earth, He was stripped of His divinity. As a man, I do not believe He knew all things. That would not make Him human.

[Diplomat]

Re: Question to Ponder...Jesus' Ability - Our Inability

A couple of things to further provoke our thinking:

"Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth. But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him."

Question: "And he said unto them, Where is your faith?" Was He saying they could have calmed the storm themselves had they exercised the God kind of faith?

"And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place. But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people. And they did so, and made them all sit down. Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude. And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets."

Question: By telling the disciples to feed the people, was He telling them they could have done the same thing He did?

We are also reminded in Mark 11:22,24 "And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."

[Kimoni]

Re: Question to Ponder...Jesus' Ability - Our Inability

Originally posted by CEW:
[qb]

Originally posted by Kimoni-Kojo:

Our inabilities come from years of polluting our souls/spirits with selfishness, greed, spite, envy, lust, lack of fasting, lack of prayer and or meditating. The acceptance or denial of these things have blocked our divine abilities.

I do think that is a part of it but the other side of the coin are people who are trying to live their lives in accordance with the Word, yet are unable to show any evidence of their 'divine abilities' in their own circumstances or in that of others.

Could it be that Jesus knew the power of faith while some of us are barely scratching the surface? As DailyBread pointed out, He doubted nothing. Even as a man, there was no doubt in His mind that anything He asked the Father, it would be granted. Isn't that the same thing He told us? [/qb]

I agree CEW, the lack of knowing our own abilities, even though some are seeking to change their ways, still have to combat the detrimental effects caused by the years of spiritual pollution, before they (we) realize the true and awesome power of blemish free and doubtless faith. Sometimes, when we think we have complete faith, there still exist a mustard seed of doubt lurking somewhere in your mind. That little seed is capable of dismantling all that you think you believe, without you realizing it.

[Dailybread]

Re: Question to Ponder...Jesus' Ability - Our Inability

Originally posted by CEW:
[qb]

Originally posted by Dailybread:

It's hard to think of him as anything other than divine. Yes, as a man like us He knew all things.

I agree with your first statement, but a careful study of His life suggests He was as human as it gets and while He was on earth, He was stripped of His divinity. As a man, I do not believe He knew all things. That would not make Him human. [/qb]

I hear you. However, I cannot believe that He did not know all things. One thing that leads me to say so is that He always knew the mind(s) of those around him. In the temple as they were giving 'offering' he knew that the lady that gave the two mites gave her all and the others didn't. He also knew what the pharisees were thinking when he healed the man that was let down through the roof and so on and so on.

[Diplomat]

Re: Question to Ponder...Jesus' Ability - Our Inability

Originally posted by Dailybread:

I hear you. However, I cannot believe that He did not know all things. One thing that leads me to say so is that He always knew the mind(s) of those around him. In the temple as they were giving 'offering' he knew that the lady that gave the two mites gave her all and the others didn't. He also knew what the pharisees were thinking when he healed the man that was let down through the roof and so on and so on.

What about the spirit of discernment? I would think He was blessed with that in abundance [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] There are many instances in the scriptures where men and women of God were able to perceive the thoughts of others around them.

According to Luke, Jesus read: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath 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 he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears." (4:18-21). Could it be that He did what He did because He consistently walked in that anointing, which when added to faith, was capable of accomplishing anything?

[Dailybread]

Re: Question to Ponder...Jesus' Ability - Our Inability

Originally posted by CEW:
[qb] Could it be that He did what He did because He consistently walked in that anointing, which when added to faith, was capable of accomplishing anything? [/qb]

Yes I truly believe that! The scripture rightly says it "we can do all things through CHRIST<the annointed/annointing> who strengthens me" When we are in (Christ) and the annointing (He) is upon us we are trusting God fully it is hard for anyone to deter us from what we know and believe hence we can do all things. NO DOUBT!

[Diplomat]

Re: Question to Ponder...Jesus' Ability - Our Inability

DB: I agree wholeheartedly. I have often contemplated Jesus' statement in Mark 11:22-24, and if what He says is true - and we know it is - then nothing is impossible! Looking at the life of Christ is quite an interesting study. He spent countless hours in prayer and fasting, was very well versed in the scriptures, sought always to do the will of God, had an unwavering faith in the Father, and was not distracted by what was happening around Him. One could argue that He diligently protected the anointing on His life.

Kimoni made a very good point about the distractions and I would suggest that this is where a lot of 'little Christs' are experiencing problems. In the parable of the sower, distractions was one of the ways the enemy used to steal the Word from the believer. Without the Word - the only offensive weapon in the Christian's arsenal - we are powerless. Without power, we cannot do anything.

So I do believe our inability to do as Christ did is due to a combination of factors; not walking consistently - if any at all - in the anointing, not spending enough time in prayer and fasting, doubt (as Jedi so rightly pointed out), not fully understanding our position and authority in Christ, among others.