Read Luke 4:31-36
I’m Not Listening to the Lies!

We first read of the event described in today’s passage in Mark 1:21-28. When several writers describe the same event, maybe we should pay very close attention to the events described. There’s such a powerful principle displayed in this event that if we see it, and believe it, our lives will forever be changed.  Our enemy (a/k/a the devil, satan, lucifer or by whatever name we choose to use) HAS TO bow down to the authority of God’s Word! (See also James 4:7) Here we see that Jesus had been teaching in the synagogue and the people were amazed at the authority with which He spoke. Since Jesus is “THE WORD,” He naturally had authority when He spoke it!  While He was teaching, a man possessed by a demon began shouting and disrupting Jesus’ message. Look carefully at what the demon audibly said. It called Jesus by His name, “Jesus of Nazareth… I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” Even demons know the truth of who Jesus really is, but they can’t accept the fact that they will lose every time they challenge Him (see also verse 41 in the same chapter) so they keep trying. Notice the confidence with which Jesus responded to the voice of the enemy, “Be quiet!…Come out of him!”  And that is exactly what happened. The demon fled. The Word repeatedly gives us examples of the principle that speaking the Word of God with authority will shut down the enemy every time. (See also Mark 5:7-13.)

As believers, we are sons and daughters of the Most High God.  As such, we have all the rights and privileges of our position in Him. (See also Romans 8.)  We have the same authority to speak to our enemy like Jesus did because He gave us that authority. In other words, say to the enemy, “I’m not listening to you, so leave!”  Then, we should speak some of our favorite scriptures to replace the lies that were spoken by the enemy. We can study the Word and use it in this way every time the enemy comes to us with his lies!

QUESTIONS:

1. If I know more of God’s Word will it be easier for me to recognize and ignore the enemy’s negative voice?
2.  Do I truly believe God’s Word has more power than the enemy’s words?
3. What are some lies that need to be replaced in my life right now?

Read Luke 5
Come Away From The Crowd

Chapter 5 has so many treasures for us and we’ve discussed some of those in our earlier studies in Matthew and Mark, so, let’s focus on verse 16 of Luke 5 today: “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Jesus had been travelling, teaching, healing, and performing all kinds of other miracles nonstop since He began His ministry.  The scripture tells us that He “often” withdrew to “lonely” places to pray. When studying the scriptures, we must ask ourselves, “Why would this sentence be found worthy to be placed in the book?” Obviously, if Jesus found it necessary to pull away from the crowd to spend time alone with His Heavenly Father, which He found necessary “often,” then, surely we must have an even greater need to do the same.   Especially during times of trouble and suffering, we need to pull away from all that crowds us and clutters our minds, and spend time alone with our Heavenly Father. And, we should do it often. (See also Mark 1:35-39)

QUESTIONS:

1. When I’m alone, have I invited my Heavenly Father for a visit?
2.  Am I confident that He will respond?
3. Am I spending more time talking about my issues with my friends than I am with my Father?

Luke 5:17-26
Your Mat May Be a Part of Your Message

In this passage, we hear Luke’s rendition of Jesus miraculously healing the paralytic who had been brought to Jesus by his friends by lowering him through a roof.  (See Matthew 9:1-8 and Mark 2:1-12) Matthew, Mark, and Luke tell us that the man had been lying on a mat and that Jesus specifically mentioned the mat when healing the man.  Was the mat important to the story, and if so, why? The mat was likely soiled in many ways and may have had an odor. If may have been heavily worn, maybe even threadbare. Perhaps, the mat represented many days, months, or years of upon what the man had placed himself, since he had lain on that mat for quite some time.  Jesus told him, now that you are healed, take that mat with you in your arms as you walk away. Jesus didn’t ignore the mat or instruct him to throw away the mat. Maybe, the mat had further use in the future. The healed man could show those he encountered the very mat that he had depended on for a long time and that it was no longer needed!

QUESTIONS:

1. Do I have a “mat” as I travel through this healing journey?
2.  Am I relying on my mat too heavily?
3.  Do I believe that I will someday use that mat as the trophy to my testimony?

Read Luke 5:27-32
The Doctor Is In The House

After Levi a/k/a Matthew had his encounter with Jesus, he wanted to introduce as many friends as he could to Jesus as well.  So, he threw a party and many of his “tax collector” buddies came. Despite the tax collectors being considered low-class thieves who were despised by most, Jesus joined their party and even sat to share a meal with them.  (NOTE: Jesus has never, and never will, discriminate against anyone! He consistently, over and over, teaches us how to love everybody just as they are. Then, when we share Him with them, He will handle the rest.) 

Look at what the “religious folk” thought about Jesus spending time with the tax collectors? Their response lets us know for certain that they had no clue who Jesus really was! Even though the scripture says the Pharisees’ question/complaint was directed at the disciples, Jesus gave His own reply, and what a fantastic reply it was!  Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” He referred to Himself as a doctor for sick folk. He linked their spiritual condition to their physical health, sickness versus health. Many times in the Scripture, yesterday for example, Jesus seemed most concerned about the spiritual condition of those He met.  He would forgive their sins followed by healing their bodies.  

QUESTIONS:

1. Could the overwhelming power of the forgiveness of their sins cause their bodies to heal?
2. Is one more important than the other —- health in our spirit or health in our body?
3. Regardless of the condition of my physical body, am I healthy in my spirit?

Read Luke 6:1-11
He Gives Life

This passage is Luke’s rendition of the man with the paralytic hand being healed on the Sabbath in the Synagogue.  (See also Matthew 12:9-14 and Mark 3:1-6) The scripture says there was a man there with a shriveled hand and that the Pharisees and teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus so they were watching Him intently.  Was the man with the shriveled hand a part of the set up or was he just at the right place at the right time? Not knowing how long the man suffered with his hand, one thing we know for sure — the day He encountered Jesus was the last day he suffered with it.  Jesus used this man’s suffering to teach the people that He came to give life, not death; and, that He did not come to see who was “following all the rules.”

 QUESTIONS:

1.  Is it possible that my suffering could result in others being brought to the saving knowledge of Christ
2. Have there been times in my life that were painful, yet looking back I can see how God made it useful for my good?
3. Could drawing closer to my Heavenly Father by learning more of His Word be a benefit from my time of suffering?