Preaching, healing, and discipling. That in capsule form summarizes Christ’s daily activities during much of His ministry. Luke records the healings with meticulous attention to detail, as befitting a doctor. When John the Baptist sends messengers to Jesus questioning whether He is the Messiah, Jesus has only to point to His miracles as proof of His claims. And as He preaches and heals, Jesus patiently prepares His followers to carry on the same kind of ministry. The stakes are high, the cost of discipleship is steep, demanding nothing less than self-denial and wholehearted commitment. But the goal of saving lives (9:56) makes it all worthwhile.
In 8:39 Jesus gives instructions to the man: Don’t preach a sermon, just give personal testimony of God at work in your life. And the result? “He went all through the city telling everyone about Jesus’ mighty miracle.” Has God made a difference in your life? Then share that testimony with one person (at least) every day. Firsthand experience with God is too precious to keep to yourself.
Chapter 9: A Ministry of Multiplication!
In 9:51 We see that the Lord had “set His face” toward Jerusalem. In other words, He was determined and focused on “to complete the will of His Father”. As He was going on His journey, He continually moved and worked in the lives of those He met along the way. And He continually taught as He walked!
v.60 “allow the dead to bury the dead”…speaking of the lost ‘dead to Him’ to take care of the lost….YOU HAVE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO DO: go, publish abroad through all regions the kingdom of God!!! Don’t busy yourself with looking back but be focused on where you are headed…TO DO HIS WILL! Plow straight rows by focusing across the horizon on An Object!
Chapter 10: Sending Out the Seventy …! As Jesus moves south into the region of Judea, He focuses on the training and commissioning of His disciples. In addition to the twelve, He now equips and sends 70 others to minister in His name. PRAY, GO, and this is the way you are to travel. HEAL, tell the consequences of non-reception. When they return, Jesus initiates a “postgraduate” program of discipleship covering such topics as prayer, hypocrisy, covetousness, anxiety, watchfulness and His own approaching death. Along with the training of those sympathetic to the Savior, Luke also records the growing hatred of Jesus’ enemies. When the Pharisees disapproved of Jesus’ apparent disregard for their traditions He responded with a series of woes against their hypocrisy.
The 70 returned awestricken because of the response of even the demons to the power given to them. They had the Wrong focus: The Lord told them in v. 20…do not rejoice at this, but that your names are enrolled in heaven.
In v. 27, the lawyer attempts to challenge the Lord: …”you must love…” You have answered correctly…do this and you will live endless life in the kingdom of God. But the lawyer continued in his challenge…Who is my neighbor? The story of the Good Samaritan: What is thine is mine and I’ll take it if I can. TAKER….BORN A TAKER. What is mine is mine and I’ll keep it if I can…DEEPLY RELIGIOUS …HOARDERS, KEEPERS! What is mine is thine and I’ll help you if I can…the GIVER, the servant, the good neighbor!
Jesus said, Go and do likewise! V.37
v. 38-42 A casual reading of this account of Mary and Martha may give you the impression that Mary was lazy and unconcerned, while Martha was industrious and faithful. But don’t miss Jesus’ evaluation of the situation! It is Mary, not Martha, whom Jesus praised. Being with Jesus was more important than being “so upset over all these details.
Would an outside observer say about your life that it more closely resembles that of Mary or that of Martha? Why?
It is natural to admire the person who does so much for God. After all, anyone who can teach a children’s class, sing in the choir, bake a pie for the potluck, visit shut-ins, and still maintain one’s sanity must be doing something right. Right?
“The last thing one knows is what to put first!” Are you letting some GOOD things crowd out more IMPORTANT things? Do you let a TV program crowd out a better book, or even the GREATest Book? Do you allow a clean house to keep you from pursuing a clean heart before God? Decide to do an IMPORTANT task today even if some GOOD ones have to be postponed. Take it from Mary, you won’t really miss a thing.
Chapter 11: “Teach us to pray…” Here is how! V. 1 – 13 The division of loyalty…the strong man principle…”must be filled with the Holy Spirit”…the Lord’s first priority – “v.28…those who hear the Word of God and obey and practice it! v.34 eye (conscience) is sound and fulfilling its office, your whole body…
Cleansing the outside and not concerned for the inside…v. 39 “these you ought to have done without leaving the others undone.” V. 42
Laying burdens of the Law on others and not doing anything yourself…responsible generation! His enemies became more enraged…v. 54…”secretly watching and plotting…that they might accuse Him.”
Chapter 12: Training the Twelve “Be on your guard”…are you on your guard? Against leaven? Hypocrisy…Fear Him Who after killing has power to hurl into hell…yes, I say to you, fear HIM. V. 5….
*v. 8 openly confess Him…or He will deny you likewise. *don’t blaspheme the Holy Spirit *don’t be afraid or anxious in your testimony – He gives the words/defense * GUARD – stay free of covetousness *v.21 don’t lay up treasures of the wrong kind in the wrong places! * the Lord makes provisions for us * Don’t be anxious and troubled *depend upon Him and not yourself * Make this your focus “Only aim at and strive for and seek His kingdom, and all these things shall be supplied to you also.” V. 31, 34 “where your treasure is there will your heart be also. Stay alert, ready, on guard. V. 36…anticipating His return! “You must be ready!” v.40 “much given, much required” v. 48
Teaching that is plain and to the point is bound to produce some enemies, and Christ’s teaching is no exception. His sermons are seldom veiled and His purpose is never simply to make truth comfortable or palatable. Consider this pointed statement, “You, too, will perish unless you leave your evil ways and return to God.” 13: 3, 5
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