The Gospel of Luke The Gospel of Luke Luk 3:1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, Six points of reference Luke uses to pinpoint the time in secular history that marks the return of the prophetic ministry to Israel Luk 3:2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. Seventh marker references the Jewish time frame Finally the word comes to John In the wilderness Luk 3:3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; John comes to the people The baptism of repentance The remission of sins Luk 3:4 As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. The Book Psa 119:89 LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. The voice crying Heb 3:7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Heb 3:8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: Heb 3:9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Heb 3:10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. Heb 3:11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) Heb 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. Heb 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Heb 3:14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; Heb 3:15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. Heb 3:16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. Heb 3:17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? Heb 3:18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? Heb 3:19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. wilderness The message Prepare the way make his paths straight Luk 3:5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; The leveling of the path The straightening of the crooked way The smoothing of the rough Luk 3:6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. An extensive prediction Luk 3:7 Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? They come to John His rebuke vipers His inquiry who motivates the heart? Flee from the wrath to come Luk 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. Bring forth... Fruits worthy of repentance Beware of assuming too much The generational presumption The surety of the fulfillment of the promise Luk 3:9 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. The time is now! Take heed Produce fruit or be felled and destroyed Luk 3:10 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? Responding to the preaching Notably absent from these groups, wanting to know what to do, are the Pharisees What shall we "do"? not more religious activity Live life responsibly No separation between religious work and secular work Luk 3:11 He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. Practical Wise Rewarding both to the giver and the recipient Luk 3:12 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? Walk humbly Repentence Faith Works Luk 3:13 And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you. Do justly Luk 3:14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages. Love mercy Love your neighbor Be content Luk 3:15 And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not; Expecting heart Pondering heart Luk 3:16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: Water Sins removed Born again Spirit Purified Filled Luk 3:17 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable. Wheat Chaff Luk 3:18 And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people. Exhortation Preaching Luk 3:19 But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, The Word at work Mar 6:17 For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her. Mar 6:18 For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife. Mar 6:19 Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not: Mar 6:20 For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. Mar 6:21 And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee; Mar 6:22 And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee. Mar 6:23 And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom. Mar 6:24 And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist. Mar 6:25 And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist. Mar 6:26 And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her. Mar 6:27 And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison, Mar 6:28 And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother. Mar 6:29 And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb. Mar 6:30 And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught. Mar 6:31 And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. Lev 18:16 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother's wife: it is thy brother's nakedness. Luk 3:20 Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison. Out of sight, out of mind? Luk 3:21 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, The way is prepared The king is here! Luk 3:22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. Visible and dramatic Voice confirmation Trinity on display Three recognized as God The Father: Joh 6:27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. 1Pe 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. The Son: Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Joh 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; The Holy Spirit: Act 5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Act 5:4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. The three are so described in Scripture that we are compelled to recognize the distinctions Described as "another": Joh 5:31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. Joh 5:32 There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true. Joh 5:33 Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth. Joh 5:34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved. Joh 5:35 He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. Joh 5:36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. Joh 5:37 And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. The begetter and the begotten: Psa 2:7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. The sender and the sent: Joh 10:36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? Gal 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, Gal 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. The Father and the Son are seen as distinct from the Holy Spirit... Jesus distinguishes the Spirit from Himself: Joh 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Joh 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. The Spirit proceeds from the Father and is sent by the Father & the Son: Joh 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: These distinctions are not merely for economic, modal, or temporal reasons, but eternal/permanent distinctions The Word existed from eternity: Php 2:6 [Jesus] Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God. Christ's pre-existence: Col 1:15 [Jesus] Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. Joh 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. Passages that describe communion between the Father and Son before the foundation of the world: Joh 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. Joh 17:24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. Passages that describe Jesus as the creator: Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. Passages that imply the eternalness of the Holy Spirit Heb 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Gen 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. Psa 33:6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. Not tri-theism Only one essence The oneness of essence explains why there is a distinction with regard to personality but in reality we can ascribe the works of one as the work of God. Equal While these titles belong to each of these "persons" we should note that when we use these terms: Father, Son, Holy Spirit, we should, at least in our minds understand that our usage of these terms are not used in the same manner as if we were referring to men. The trinity is hard to grasp because we do not have an adequate analogy that helps us to understand the concept. This doesn't mean that the concept is contradictory--unless we are trying to conceive the unity of the Godhead as a mathematical oneness... i.e. 3 cannot be 1. Definition of the Trinity: One God, eternally manifested as Father, Son and Holy Spirit... Luk 3:23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli, The time has arrived! Genealogies Luk 4:1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, What does it mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit? Can unbelievers be filled with the Spirit? Why? What is a characteristic of one who is "filled"? Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. Gal 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Gal 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Gal 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Gal 5:26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. Can a believer not be filled with the Holy Spirit? Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Luk 4:2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. Introducing the devil In Luke 2 we saw the attempts of the devil as he attempted to thwart God's plan through the wicked king who ordered the slaying of the children... but here he makes a personal appearance. We can't help but to think back on Job's experience. God pointed out Job and stated that he was perfect and upright in all his ways and that he hated evil. How much more would this be true of Jesus? Fasting Purpose: To draw close to God and to seek His will Ezr 8:21 Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance. Ezr 8:22 For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him. Ezr 8:23 So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us. Act 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. To become dependent on His sustenance ...every Word that proceeds from God To break the yoke of bondage Isa 58:3 Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours. Isa 58:4 Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. Isa 58:5 Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? Isa 58:6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Isa 58:7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Isa 58:8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward. To seek God's mercy Est 4:16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish. 2Sa 12:21 Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread. 2Sa 12:22 And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live? 2Sa 12:23 But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me. To seek God's help 2Ch 20:3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 2Ch 20:4 And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD. Help Arrives: 2Ch 20:15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's. 2Ch 20:16 To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel. 2Ch 20:17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you. 2Ch 20:18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD. Not effective unless accompanied by repentance Jer 14:11 Then said the LORD unto me, Pray not for this people for their good. Jer 14:12 When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and an oblation, I will not accept them: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence. Jer 14:13 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, the prophets say unto them, Ye shall not see the sword, neither shall ye have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place. Jer 14:14 Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart. Not for outward show Joe 2:12 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: Joe 2:13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Joe 2:14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God? Mat 6:16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. Mat 6:17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; Mat 6:18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. Should characterize His bride Mat 9:15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast. Effective weapon against the devil Mat 17:14 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, Mat 17:15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. Mat 17:16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. Mat 17:17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. Mat 17:18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. Mat 17:19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? Mat 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Mat 17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. This shows that in the demonic realm there are varying ranks of demonic forces. Mat 12:43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Mat 12:44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Mat 12:45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation. Mar 9:17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; Mar 9:18 And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not. Mar 9:19 He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me. Mar 9:20 And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. Mar 9:21 And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child. Mar 9:22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. Mar 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. Mar 9:24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. Mar 9:25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. Mar 9:26 And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead. Mar 9:27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose. Mar 9:28 And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out? Mar 9:29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting. Fasting coupled with prayer highlights the believers utter dependence upon God Independent people do not fast and do not pray... why should they? Our prayer life (and whether or not we fast) reflects the attitude we have concerning our own capabilities... our self-sufficiency. We should daily be learning to trust God in every situation because there is coming a time when we will have to and if we have not developed complete faith in Him in everything what are we going to do when things get really tough? Job 5:19 He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee. Job 5:20 In famine he shall redeem thee from death: and in war from the power of the sword. Job 5:21 Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh. Job 5:22 At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth. Job 5:23 For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field: and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee. (Concerning being in league with the stones of the field, the idea is God will protect you even if you are walking barefoot among the stones of the field--Psa 91:12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. ) (Trust God and He will guide our steps: Psa 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. ) Luk 4:3 And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. The nature of temptation Gen 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. 1Jn 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 1Jn 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. The "World" Physical World God's creation is "good". People of the World Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. World's philosophy The world's maxims, aims, goals and principles Since the fall mankind ceased from being God-centric and became man-centric Authority, power, might, became the most valuable assets for this new worldly mindset. Does this characterize the things that Christians view as desirable? What would you consider more desirable: Your son (or daughter) becoming the president of the United States... or Your son or daughter becoming a Christian? Instant Gratification Get it however you can and get it NOW! You don't need to wait and trust God for your needs! He had the power: He turned water into wine He multiplied the loaves and fishes He served up fish without a pole: Joh 21:9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. Joh 21:10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. Joh 21:11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. Joh 21:12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. Joh 21:13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. There is a season for everything... The voice from heaven had already confirmed that He was the Son of God Jas 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. Jas 1:7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. Jas 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. Rom 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. Same strategy as the devil used in the Garden of Eden Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? Implied: Take matters into your own hands... you can satisfy your own needs... who needs God? or who needs to be dependent upon him? Luk 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. It stands written! Deu 8:3 And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live. Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; Again, the issue of dependence. There is no way that we are going to be able to wrestle against the devil without depending on the weapons that God gives us. Do we fight with our spiritual weapons or do we struggle and fight in our own strength? So often we fight ineffectively because we do it in our own strength and only turn to God in those "impossible" situations? He wants us to depend upon Him for everything... even something as ordinary as our daily needs. Mat 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread. Luk 4:5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. Luk 4:6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. Instant Kingdom I want it and I want it NOW! The devil had usurped the kingdoms of the world when Adam and Eve fell. Notice that Jesus didn't argue with the fact that the devil had been given this power. Luk 4:7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. Isa 14:13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: Isa 14:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Eze 28:17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. The true saints of God will never bow to the devil Rev 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Luk 4:8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. It is written! Luk 4:9 And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: Luk 4:10 For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: Luk 4:11 And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. The devil can quote scripture! The devil changes his tactics So you want to depend on God do you? Go ahead... you can depend on God the Father to save you! JUMP! Instant Glory! Just think of the publicity: Angels catch man as he jumps from the temple--THIS MUST BE THE MESSIAH! Luk 4:12 And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Luk 4:13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season. Luk 4:14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. Luk 4:15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all. The obscure period Note. - A large gap here occurs, embracing the important transactions in Galilee and Jerusalem which are recorded in John 1:29-4:54, and which occurred before John’s imprisonment (Joh_3:24); whereas the transactions here recorded occurred (as appears from Mat_4:12, Mat_4:13) after that event. Luk 4:16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. Note here that even though the synagogues (not unlike our "churches") may have been fraught with problems along with varying degrees of spirituality, Jesus still considered it important to not forsake assembling together with other believers. Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. The synagogues were the teaching centers of Judaism while the temple was the center of the ceremonial activity, feast days, etc.. They had in their synagogues seven readers every sabbath, the first a priest, the second a Levite, and the other five Israelites of that synagogue. The text Qualification: The Spirit was upon Him Commission The anointing of God Sent by God Qualified and commissioned to: Preach Evangelize Message of deliverance recovery of sight for the blind healing of the broken hearted redemption the acceptable year of the Lord The reaction 2Co 2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. 2Co 2:15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: 2Co 2:16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? Luk 4:17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, Luk 4:18 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, The quotation is chiefly from the Septuagint version, used in the synagogues. LXX English Translation: Is 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me; he has sent {1} me to preach glad tidings to the poor, to heal the broken in heart, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind; Luk 4:19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. It alludes to the year of release, or that of jubilee, which was an acceptable year to servants, who were then set at liberty; to debtors, against whom all actions then dropped; and to those who had mortgaged their lands, for then they returned to them again. Christ came to sound the jubilee-trumpet; and blessed were they that heard the joyful sound, Psa_89:15. It was an acceptable time, for it was a day of salvation. Isa 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; Isa 61:2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; Luk 4:20 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. Luk 4:21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. Luk 4:22 And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son? Luk 4:23 And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country. Luk 4:24 And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country. Mat 13:54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? Mat 13:55 Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? Mat 13:56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? Mat 13:57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. Mat 13:58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief. Mar 6:1 And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him. Mar 6:2 And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? Mar 6:3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. Mar 6:4 But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. Mar 6:5 And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. Mar 6:6 And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching. Luk 4:25 But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; Luk 4:26 But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. Luk 4:27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian. Widows and lepers were a marginalized element in society, and not only that, this widow and this leper were not of the Jews. Luk 4:28 And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, Luk 4:29 And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong. By their actions they proved his saying that a prophet is not without honor except in his own hometown. By using the examples of the two major sign prophets of the OT, Jesus intended to highlight the fact that the signs that He preformed would not be well received by His own nation... but the Gentiles would benefit! Rom 10:19 But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. Rom 10:20 But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. Rom 10:21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people. Luk 4:30 But he passing through the midst of them went his way, Joh 8:59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. Joh 10:39 Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand, Act 12:6 And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. Act 12:7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. Act 12:8 And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. Act 12:9 And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision. Act 12:10 When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him. Jer 36:26 But the king commanded Jerahmeel the son of Hammelech, and Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to take Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet: but the LORD hid them. Luk 4:31 And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days. Luk 4:32 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power. He spoke with authority and the Word was being confirmed with power. Mar 16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. Luk 4:33 And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice, Luk 4:34 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God. Multiple demons in an individual Mar 5:6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, Mar 5:7 And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. Mar 5:8 For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. Mar 5:9 And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many. Mar 5:10 And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country. Mar 5:11 Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding. Mar 5:12 And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. Mar 5:13 And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea. Luk 4:35 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not. Luk 4:36 And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out. They were amazed at the power of His Word, but they were obviously acquainted with the spiritual realm of the demonic. Mar 1:23 And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, Mar 1:24 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. Mar 1:25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. Mar 1:26 And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him. Mar 1:27 And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him. Luk 4:37 And the fame of him went out into every place of the country round about. Luk 4:38 And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon's house. And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her. A source of consternation by the later popes! Luk 4:39 And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them. Hos 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. Luk 4:40 Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them. Is it God's will to heal His children? Revealed in His covenant Name Exo 15:26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee. Other covenant Names of God: YHWH / YAHWEH / JEHOVAH: “LORD” (Deuteronomy 6:4; Daniel 9:14) – Strictly speaking, the only proper name for God. Translated in English Bibles “LORD” (all capitals) to distinguish it from Adonai “Lord.” The revelation of the name is first given to Moses “I Am who I Am” (Exodus 3:14). This name specifies an immediacy, a presence. Yahweh is present, accessible, near to those who call on Him for deliverance (Psalm 107:13), forgiveness (Psalm 25:11) and guidance (Psalm 31:3). YAHWEH-JIREH: "The Lord will Provide" (Genesis 22:14) – The name memorialized by Abraham when God provided the ram to be sacrificed in place of Isaac. YAHWEH-RAPHA: "The Lord Who Heals" (Exodus 15:26) – “I am Jehovah who heals you” both in body and soul. In body, by preserving from diseases, and by curing them when afflicted with them and in soul, by pardoning their iniquities. YAHWEH-NISSI: "The Lord Our Banner" (Exodus 17:15), where banner is understood to be a rallying place. This name commemorates the desert victory over the Amalekites in Exodus 17. YAHWEH-M'KADDESH: "The Lord Who Sanctifies, Makes Holy" (Leviticus 20:8; Ezekiel 37:28) – God makes it clear that He alone, not the law, could cleanse His people and make them holy. YAHWEH-SHALOM: "The Lord Our Peace" (Judges 6:24) – The name given by Gideon to the altar he built after the Angel of the Lord assured him he would not die as he thought he would after seeing Him. YAHWEH-ELOHIM: "LORD God" (Genesis 2:4; Psalm 59:5) – Combination of God’s unique name YHWH and the generic “Lord,” signifying that He is the Lord of Lords. YAHWEH-TSIDKENU: "The Lord Our Righteousness” (Jeremiah 33:16) – As with YHWH-M’Kaddesh, it is God alone who provides righteousness to man, ultimately in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ, who became sin for us “that we might become the Righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). YAHWEH-ROHI: "The Lord Our Shepherd" (Psalm 23:1) – After David pondered his relationship as a shepherd to his sheep, he realized that was exactly the relationship God had with him, and so he declares “Yahweh-Rohi is my Shepherd. I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1). YAHWEH-SHAMMAH: "The Lord is There” (Ezekiel 48:35) – The name ascribed to Jerusalem and the Temple there, indicating that the once departed glory of the Lord (Ezekiel 8—11) had returned (Ezekiel 44:1-4). YAHWEH-SABAOTH: "The Lord of Hosts" (Isaiah 1:24; Psalm 46:7) – “Hosts” means hordes, both of angels and of men. He is Lord of the host of heaven, and of the inhabitants of the earth, of Jews and Gentiles, of rich and poor, master and slave. The name is expressive of the majesty, power, and authority of God and shows that he is able to accomplish what he determines to do. The devil is the author of sickness and disease. Revealed in the OT record The atonement passage: Isaiah 53 Isa 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. Compared with: Isa 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Isa 53:12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. Mat 8:16 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: Mat 8:17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses. Psa 103:1 <A Psalm of David.> Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Psa 103:2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Psa 103:3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Psa 103:4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Psa 103:5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. A better covenant would not be anything less than the old covenant. Revealed by the works of Jesus Luk 5:12 And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. Luk 5:13 And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him. Joh 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. Joh 14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. Power to heal given to the Church. Jas 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: Jas 5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Jas 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 1Co 12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; God's mercy is shown to His worshippers in healing just as His mercy is shown to sinners by His offer of forgiveness. Rom 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Objections to Divine Healing Job's boils Php 2:25 Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants. Php 2:26 For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick. Php 2:27 For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. Php 2:28 I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful. Php 2:29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation: Php 2:30 Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me. 1Ti 5:23 Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities. 2Co 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 2Co 12:8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2Co 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. Num 33:55 But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell. Jos 23:13 Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you. Jdg 2:3 Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you. Joh 11:4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. 2Ki 13:14 Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. And Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over his face, and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. Why are some not healed? Lack of instruction Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. We must know what God offers before we can expect it from Him. Without knowledge of His will then we must pray "if it be thy will" which doesn't qualify as a prayer of faith. What if we were bombarded with the statement: "The age of redemption has passed" as often as we are bombarded with "the age of miracles is passed"? Would this not hinder evangelism tremendously? Jesus apparently intended to carry on His earthly ministry through His Church... He says "these signs shall follow THEM that believe..." implying not an individual, but a group... His Church. Community unbelief In His own hometown HE COULD DO NO MIGHTY WORKS because of their UNBELIEF! When the disciples couldn't cast out the demon in the epileptic boy, some could have concluded that it wasn't God's will... but Jesus showed that it WAS His will to heal and deliver! Our theology must not be based upon our experience (failure) but on the Word of God. Someone might say: "I know someone who was prayed for by the elders and was not healed", and conclude that it isn't God's will to heal. Would you come to the same conclusion if you knew someone who was prayed for and baptized, and yet was not saved? Would you say that it wasn't God's will to save them? If sickness is God's will, then would that not make every hospital, every doctor, every nurse, workers against God's will? Luk 4:41 And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ. Luk 4:42 And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place: and the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them. Luk 4:43 And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent. The mission of Christ Luk 4:44 And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee.
These are rough notes (need to spell check, etc.) that I used over the last few weeks teaching the Gospel of Luke. I'm sorry that some of the points aren't developed... I just use the notes to jog my memory so that I can expand on the points while I'm talking. I'm not sure if uploading rough draft notes will be helpful to anyone, but perhaps there will be something you can glean from them. Ideally one might choose to refine and polish before publishing, but I don't have that kind of time. Anyway, feel free to edit any mistakes and even add your own comments if you like! Blessings, William
William, I was just reading your notes and outline of Luke 3 and 4. Near the end you were bringing out the reasons for people not receiving healing, and you listed community unbelief, using the example that even in Jesus' hometown he could do no mighty works because of their unbelief. Then you say something that is SO important, in fact it's crucial to the faith message... "Our theology must not be based upon our experience (failure) but on The Word of God." You know, if you stop and think about it, there are many denominations who base their theology on this, their experiences, and have denied God's power and presence today... 'We prayed and didn't get the answer we wanted, thus proving that God no longer answers prayer, or heals, or delivers, or performs miracles.' But I know of some among us (X-FAer's)who have turned away because we've taken our focus from The Word and the promiser, Jesus; and based our current theology on our experiences and the wisdom of man. Divine healing is a prime example among some, Hobart Freeman died, so the message of divine healing must not be true. Oh! how tragic this is to see, people who once was confessing and believing in God's promises, walking away because the manifestation didn't fall within their time frame of convenience. "For ALL the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him A-men, unto the glory of God by us."~II Corinthians 1:20 If anyone reading this has fallen into this snare, I encourage you to repent and return unto your first love, Jesus, who purchased your healing by His shed BLOOD at calvary...only believe and receive it by faith....He did all the work, it's free to you...