She was Bent Over and Could Not Straighten Up at All

In Luke 13:10 , Jesus does a beautiful thing...healing a long term problem of a local crippled woman. Jesus touched her and "spoke" her into health.  When she was immediately restored...she praised God.

Could there be anything better???  This should be cause for celebration!....

Most all the observers were delighted...So why is the local preacher all hacked off?  The synagogue leader is more dialed into the law...than dialed into grace.  Rules were his focus...not love and compassion for the woman.  Jesus identifies him as  a  hypocrite...which means he believes one thing and does another.

It says that the man was humiliated....which was a good thing.  It means that the truth cut down to the bone. We don't know what he did next....hopefully he repented.

Think Your Bulletproof?

Since we don't see Jesus...there is a human nature to act in our own power...to seek our own way...to forget that the Master will ever return....We act as if we were bullet-proof.  In fact we never consider what will happen when we die.  Without Jesus we are kidding ourselves.

In Luke 12: 33 Jesus tells His disciples a parable about a Master returning home to His servants after a wedding banquet . In the parable about readiness/watchfulness...Jesus is urging us to always be ready for His return. What does that mean? It means that we should live our lives just as if Jesus is here with us.

We are to be about His business...Kingdom business. He is to rule over our hearts when we think He is around and when we don't think He is around....We are stewards...servants... managers that are to represent Him....We are His Royal Ambassadors.

Your Eye is the Lamp of your Body

Some Bible scholars call the eye...the "eyegate".  The reason is that this is one of gateways into our bodies.  If we see anything...it comes through the eyegate.

Jesus says in Luke 11:34, "When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness."

Jesus is not talking about physical health...He is speaking of our spiritual health.  In other words..."You look at Good things...Light....You look at Garbage...darkness."

Jesus then warns us, "See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness."

What is he saying?  Guard your eyegate....guard what you look at...it will help guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus!!!!

You are Worried and Upset about Many Things

In Luke 10:38-41, Jesus visits the home of 2 sisters.  His visit highlights the contrast of the two sisters.

Martha the gracious hostess was proactively working to make the time special....with virtually no help from her sister Mary.  What are we to make of this? Most of us "A" types are pulling for this hard-working sister....Martha.

...but Jesus commends Mary..."who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said"...
and he scolds Martha for being worried, upset about many things and distracted by all the preparations. (So much for being proactive and prepared.  It almost seems that Jesus is condoning the wrong behavior.)

...but Jesus is not concern on what we can do for him....He is interested in spending time with us.
Jesus loves us and want to have relationship with us.  He is not dependent on what we do for him.
So Jesus tells Martha that Mary has chosen "best"...she chose to spend time with her Lord.

We busily go about our days...anxious...busy...upset...about many things.  All God wants is that He is our priority....he wants to spend the day with us.

Whoever Wants to be My Disciple....

Ever play "Follow the Leader" when you were a kid?  It may be the best example I can think of for following someone. You did your best to mimic each action of the leader. Think about it.

Want to be a disciple of Jesus? It about following...in fact Jesus tells us in Luke 9:23 what it takes to be his disciples.

He says three things are required:
1. Deny yourself
2. Take up your cross
3. Follow Jesus

Let's unpack these just a bit...
1. What is it to deny yourself?  This would be opposite of indulging yourself.  In other words you would not make choices based on your wants all the time....it would be more about other's needs. Remember when Jesus was tempted by Satan in the dessert?  He denied Himself each time and was obedient to the Father.
2.What is it to take up your cross?  The cross was the instrument of death that Jesus was subjected to.
He was obedient.... even to death on the cross.  We must have the same attitude as the one we follow...even to death.

3.What is it to follow Jesus? What are the best examples of following Jesus? Remember when Jesus asked different disciples to follow Him?
They drop everything and immediately followed Him. No holding back...security, power, treasure, comfort...they left these things behind...and so must we....

Let's be disciples of Jesus...Let's follow Him!

Good Soil Stands for those with a Noble and Good Heart

Good Soil=A Good & Noble Heart

In the Parable of the Sower...Jesus described "4 kinds of soil"...or "4 kinds of hearers of the word."It is a short story with a big lesson...He wants us to be the 4th soil...the "good soil." 

What were the characteristics of the good soil???

Three things we can assume that good soil is not like the other soils:
1.Good Soil is not so harden by the world... so it still can absorb the word.
2.Good Soil is not like rocky soil that doesn't retain moisture.  When the heat is turned up...the crop will not wilt away.
3. Good Soil doesn't have a bunch of weeds that choke out the crop.

Other things we learn about Good Soil:
 It yields a crop....and it yields it many times what is sown.  (it is rich and fruitful)

Jesus summarises Good Soil by saying it stands for those with a noble and good heart..."who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop." (Luke 8:15)

Jesus' brother James states a similar phrase in James 1:22  "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."

I Myself Am a Man Under Authority

Who was this man that Jesus was so amazed with???  The Roman Centurion mentioned in the 7th chapter of Luke was an officer who understood his military authority and "chain of command." It sounds so simple...but that is at the heart of every military organization...."chain of command."  You follow orders from your superior. You do not question...you don't do what you want to do....you do what they command you to do. This simple understanding of authority and obedience was what so amazed Jesus.  This man beleived that Jesus was the "Son of God" and had the power of the universe at his disposal.  He needed Jesus to help him and simply ask Him to do what only the "Son of God" could do....heal his servant from his current location.

I want the great faith of the centurion...don't you?  It just means living life as if Jesus is Lord....because He really is ...no matter if you beleive it or not!!!!

Who Dug Down Deep and Laid the Foundation on Rock

In the middle of Luke 6, Jesus is speaking to his disciples and a large crowd.  He is teaching everyone...but especially His disciples.  He tells them to love their enemies.  He tells them not to judge others.  Basically He has some pretty hard teaching.   Jesus ends talking about obedience.  He says many that call Him Lord...just verbalize it...not really basing their life on Jesus and his teaching.... not putting His word into practice. So what does it look like to follow Jesus in obedience?  He says it is like a man that builds his house on a rock-hard solid foundation.  When we base our life on Jesus and Him alone we will have this foundation that can not be shaken.  When we live life without Jesus...we are in big trouble....like a life built on shifting sand...that life is going to crash big time!!!!  I want a solid structure...a solid life...I want Jesus as my foundation.

From Now on You Will Fish for People

Jesus will make us fishers of men, too....just like He promised His disciples in Luke 5. In this story we pick up on some of the lessons for "Fishing for Men"....by examining the "Fishing for Fish" story. What do we learn?  Sometimes we waste our time fishing for men...because we do it on our timetable, in our strength...in our location.  Jesus shows us that when we fish with Him...We go out into the deep waters....where it's a little scary.  We fish where Jesus tells us....not where we think would be good.  We are dependent on Him...His strength.  Look at the "Net result" of Fishing with Jesus.  The nets were so full that it began to break the nets. and sink the 2 boats.   Now that is a haul!!!! 

That is the kind of catch that I want to get when I fish for men...don't you? When you go fishing for men....Go with Jesus.

The Spirit of the Lord is on Me

In Luke 4, Jesus returns to His hometown synagoge in the Spirit... then He stands up and reads the following passage from the scroll of Isaiah, written 700 years before...

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

In this statement , Jesus really is stating His mission statement....

By reading this prophesy of Isaiah...Jesus is also telling all His hometown neighbors that it is He...that is the Christ...the long awaited Messiah. The people thought he was really nice until they figured out that he was claiming to be God's Son...then they were furious.

Jesus was Baptized Too

In Luke 3:21 it says, "When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too."

The first time I read this verse...it took me back a little bit. Why would Jesus get baptised..if he was without sin?

But let us consider that He was obedient in all things. That changed my view of Baptism. I had always thought of Batism as a good symbol of our faith...but not a deal breaker if we did not get Baptised.

Now I see Baptism as an act of obedience. If Jesus did it...it is right for us ,too.

In verse 21, Jesus prays to the Father. What happens next? Father God speaks from heaven,“You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”  God loves obedience.  He loves His Son.  He is so pleased with His Son being Obedient.

Are You Listening When God Speaks?

In Luke 1 & 2 God speaks a number of times about His Son... He was sending in the flesh.
In these 5 examples the person encountering God ....listens........

In Luke 1:11 the Lord speaks through the Angel Gabriel to Zachariah.  He calms him and tells Zachariah His plan to send him a son to prepare the way for Jesus.  Afterwards, Zachariah was obedient and worshipped the Lord in song.(v.68-79)

Next in Luke 1:26, the Angel Gabriel calms her and speaks God's plan of Jesus' virgin birth to Mary. Afterward Mary was obedient and ended up worship & praising God in song. (V40-55)

In Luke 2:9, an Angel of the Lord calms the shepherds then announces the Christ. In V2:20 "The shepherds returned glorifying and praising God..."

In Luke 2:26, The Holy Spirit reveals to Simeon that he would see the Christ before he died.  Simeon praises God in words to Mary and Joseph. v2:29-32

In Luke 2:36 Anna...a woman that was known as "a prophetess" spoke about Jesus who would redeem Jerusalem. She ended in thanksgiving to God.

In all these accounts....When God speaks to the person they know that God is speaking and they understand what He is telling them.  Their response to the message of God is awe, obedience, worship and thanksgiving.  After the encounter they know who God is...and who they are.

God spoke in these encounters in Luke through angels and the Holy Spirit.  Today, God still speaks clearly through the Holy Spirit, through prayer, through the Word, through circumstances and through His Church. Always be ready and expect to hear from God.

Do You Journal???

In the opening of Luke's Gospel he writes, "Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,  just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word.  With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you... so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught. "

Have you ever journaled?  It is an important part of your walk with God.  In examining Luke's words above...we understand that Luke simply wrote down what he had seen...what he had witnessed. He carefully wrote down the details of what God did among the believers...from his perspective. Why do we write down these "God times".  We are God's witnesses to the next generation.  We glorify God with the written certainty of our our testimonies. When we journal... we are being faithful to tell the story of God in our generation.

Busy vs. Busybody

The warning in the last of Chapter 3 of II Thessalonians is not to be "idle or disruptive."  This is so common sense....not just in any organization...but especially in God's Kingdom.

When someone is idle...not engaged in the work of the Kingdom....their focus changes.  Idleness breeds judgement and disruptive behavior.  You have seen it all through life...a person not actively involved...not busy with the work at hand...begins to criticize others.  Their time is spent in disruptive behavior instead of the work.

So what is Paul's remedy?

"... never tire of doing what is good."
If we stay busy in the work of the Kingdom...we stay on task..we stay out of judging, we stay away from disruptive behavior.  So don't be a busybody...stay busy in God's work.

Stand Firm and Hold Fast

When I think of "standing firm and holding fast"...I think of rock climbing. When you are on the rocks...standing firm and holding fast...is a must.  If you don't do those things...you fall...you get hurt...you may die. You must "cling" to the rock.

 In II Thess 2: 15, Paul urged his listeners to stand firm and hold fast to the teaching of Jesus.  What a great message for us.Especially when the going gets tough.  We really need to cling to His teachings with all we have....it is a matter of life and death...just like in rock climbing.

Are you Clinging to Jesus with all your might?   Stand firm and hold fast to His teachings. It is a matter of Life and death.

That our God May Make You Worthy of His Calling

In 2 Thessilonians....Paul is writing to His friends in the Church at Thessilonica.  He encourages them in their tough time of persecution.  After encouraging them to finish well in this life....in verse 11-12..Paul tells about His prayer for them.

It is a model to us of pray for our friends in Christ.
" ...we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ."

Let's pray this for our friends!!!!

For This is God’s Will for You

People are always looking for God's will for their life.

I always like to point them to I Thess 5:16-18 which says,   "Rejoice always, pray continually,  give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."

In General...God wants you to rejoice always....that is all the time...good times and bad times...when everything goes our way and when things seem stacked against us.  We need to trust God and know that circumstances don't dictate joy....knowing God... supplies us our joy....so "rejoice".

Secondly, God want us to pray continually.  That means that we are to keep an "open door" of communication with Him all day long....continually. If we are in communication with God...we are remaining in Him. If we are close to Him in prayer....our relationship will be one of love and obedience.

God wants us to also be thankful in all circumstances.  A thankful attitude in everything...speaks to the heart that God is searching for...humble and appreciative.  It is this heart attitude that  He loves in all circumstances....that's right... whether good or bad circumstances...we need to be thankful.  Don't you love this trait in others?  God loves it in us.  These are definitely three things that God has willed for us in life.

It is God’s Will that you Should be Sanctified

If it is God's will that we should be santified....we should first find out what it means to be santified.

Websters says that sanctified means..."to set apart to a sacred purpose, to free from sin,  purify."

 Yes, God wants us "set apart" for Him. And so when He santifies us...He frees us from sin...He purifies us...He sets us apart for His purposes.

"For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life." (V-7)

God is always sanctifing us....making us holy...purifing us...changing us to be more like Jesus.

We Speak as those Approved by God

What is the difference between presenting the gospel man's way vs God's way?

I Thess 2 shows us a contrast between the two ways.

Man's ways often include:
1.Errors or impure motives
2.Tricks
3.People pleasing
4.Flattery and greed

God's ways include:
1. God Pleasing
2. Child-like qualities
3. Love and care for others
4. toil and hardship
5. Being holy, righteous and blameless
6. encouraging, comforting and urging

So next time you are presenting the Gospel....try to please God not people.... speak as one "approved by God."

But Also With Power, With the Holy Spirit and Deep Conviction

What was it that was turning the First Century World upside down?
Was it a bunch of enthusiastic men promoting their religion?
Was it their different writings and speeches about a new prophet?
Was it their convincing style of a new age self-discovery?

No...It was the Power of the Gospel...the same divine power that supernaturally accompanies God's Gospel message.  For this gospel story is alive.  The message is Jesus...God's son...God Himself....So the Holy Spirit empowers the story.  He not only brings deep conviction...but also gives new life in Himself.

A message of True Power turned the first century world upside down...and continues to change people with it's powerful message of Hope.

Trust God's message and the power it carries with it. Let it  ring out from you not only in your neighborhood—but let your faith in God become known everywhere. Turn your world upside down.

Receive Her in the Lord in a Way Worthy of his People

I am struck by the number of women mentioned in Paul's final chapter of Romans.  I was so struck by the numbers that I did some quick research... and found it was a time where men were dominate.  Women could not vote.  Men outnumbered women by nearly 40%... ...partly because of death in childbirth. Women could not speak in the marketplace....and were not allowed as witnesses .They also did not receive much in the way of education.  (You have probably heard most of these assumptions.)

But in the "Christian" world things were to be different.  The teaching of Jesus pushed the limits of the cultural norms.  His teaching also attracted the oppressed.  Love was the theme.  Love one another meant to love everyone.  "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."(Galatians)

So it seems that Paul...like Jesus hung out with the outcast...the weak...the oppressed...and yes women.
And he urges the Roman church to treat his new found fellow servants...with love.  Don't look at them the way the culture defines them...but see each person as one of His people...children of God.

A timeless lesson for all of us.