The Spiritual Training Ground for Elite Warriors – Luke 5:16
But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. I love a good action movie and one of the things I realize about them is that you don’t see a lot of the behind-the-scenes work. Take Walker, Texas Ranger, played by Chuck Norris. They don’t really show us all the time he spent in the weight room or on the martial arts mats to get ready to fight the bad guys like that. Or, take Top Gun,…
The Leper Inside Us All – Luke 5:12-15
While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him. Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the…
When Leaving All I Know — Makes Sense – Luke 5:8-11
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for men.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and…
The Extra Benefits of Helping Jesus – Luke 5:1-7
One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he…
Rest and Work – Luke 4:42-44
At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea. –Parallel VersesProverbs 6:6-11Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its…
Compassion, Hard Work, and Ready for Battle – Luke 4:40-41
At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah. –Parallel verses:John 4:34 NIV“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his…
Taking Time to Care for Family & Close Friends – Luke 4:38-39
Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them. I have seen some in ministry serve everyone else except for those closest to them — like their disciples, their family, or their close friends. Some…
When Demons Beg for Mercy – Luke 4:33-37
In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an impure spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, “Go away! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” “Be quiet!” Jesus said sternly. “Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him. All the people…
Authority Through Authenticity and Truth – Luke 4:31-37
Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath he taught the people. They were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority. Jesus was, first of all, a humble servant. Philippians 2:6-8 says of Jesus: “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made…