Month: January 2024

Luke 13:10-14, NKJV

Consider this. Jesus was teaching in a synagogue one Sabbath day (v.10). In the midst of His teaching, He saw a woman bent double and unable to stand up straight. Scripture said that the woman suffered with an evil spirit for eighteen years (v.11). When Jesus saw her, Hecalled her to Him and spoke healing to her, saying, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity” (v.12). He laid His hands on her, and immediately she stood straight and started glorifying and praising God (v.13). Even though Jesus paused from the word He was ministering to the people, He didn’t stop teaching. He showed us by example that believers are people of faith; therefore, through faith, we can “call into existence things that are not as though they were” (Romans 4:17). 

It would seem that the whole congregation would have been delighted and joined the woman in praise for deliverance from an eighteen-year crippling infirmity. However, the devil never likes losing his grip on anyone. In v.14 the ruler of the synagogue responded with indignation, or anger, about the good work the Lord had done on the Sabbath day. He told the people that there are six days in a week for men to work; therefore, come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath day.

How selfish he was! The ruler(s) had planned the service and was not receptive to this spontaneous change. Brothers and Sisters, let us be receptive to divine intervention for the sake of the kingdom.

Clap your hands and shout, “Glory!”

2 Corinthians 1:3-7, NKJV; NLT

When we think of the goodness of God and all He’s done for us, we can’t help but praise Him. In vv. 3-4 Paul blessed the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. We all have suffered various trials and needed comfort. Because God is the Father of mercies, He comforts us whenever troubles come. Why does He do this? It is because He is a God of purpose whose desire is to help those who trust and obey Him. He gives us comfort in all our tribulation so that we will be loving and kind to others, giving them the same kind of comfort He gave to us. 

“For as the sufferings of Christ (2 Cor. 11:23-28) abound in us, so our consolation, or comfort, also abounds through Christ” (v.5). There will be times when Christians suffer various trials; James said, “count it all joy.” Every time children of God are betrayed, abused, or as a gospel song writer said: lied on, scorned, talked about, sho’s you born, the sufferings of Christ abound in us. Because we share in Christ’s pain through different trials, our consolation also abounds through Him.

Paul continued that even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer (v.6, NLT). We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us (v.7, NLT).

Clap your hands and give God glory!

Matthew 17:14-21, NKJV 

After Jesus’ disciples failed to heal a father’s son of epilepsy, the father came to Jesus. Jesus reprimanded His disciples, calling them a faithless and perverse generation. After all, He had given them power “over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease” (10:1). Then He commanded them to bring the child to Him.

Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy; he was healed right then (v.18). The demon did not know who the disciples were, but it knew who Jesus was. We cannot do anything unless Jesus abides in us and we in Him. That personal relationship is necessary; it is through faith in Christ that believers get power to produce fruit. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately, asking why they could not cast out the demon (v.19). Jesus told them it was because of their unbelief; if they had faith as a mustard seed, they could say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you (v.20). However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting” (v.21). Sometimes, Children of God, we’ve got to pray and fast.

Jesus declared that if the disciples only had mustard seed faith, they could speak and cast out the demon, and nothing will be impossible. Without faith it is impossible to please God. Jesus said that this demon goes out only by prayer and fasting. Pray and fast. Have faith in God or be powerless.

Give God glory!

Matthew 17:14-21, NKJV

This passage took place the day after Jesus took three of His disciples: Peter, James, and John up in a high mountain and transfigured before them. When they came down from the mountain, a man from the multitude came and knelt down before Jesus (v.14). He asked the Lord to have mercy on his son who suffered severely from epilepsy, often falling into the fire and often into the water (v.15). The man brought his son to Jesus’ disciples, but they could not cure him (v.16). Jesus responded: “Ofaithless and perverse generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I bear with you? Bring him here to Me” (v17). 

The father believed Jesus’ disciples could heal his son of epilepsy, but when they failed, he came to Jesus. He desperately wanted his son healed. The epileptic attacks were severe, and his son  sometimes fell in fire and sometimes in water. Jesus reprimanded His disciples: “O faithless and perverse generation.” He asked, “how long will He be with them and how long will He put up with them?” Jesus commanded they bring the child to Him. 

Believers must have faith in God; faith comes from Him. Therefore, the power to do the good works He has prepared for us is in Him. Our faith stirs Him to move on our behalf. 

Children of God, we may live in the midst of a [morally] crooked and [spiritually] perverted generation, but let’s be that beacon of light, shining out clearly in this faithless world. 

Give God glory!