Luke 9:12-17 Five Thousand Fed

Now the day was ending, and the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the crowd away, that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside and find lodging and get something to eat; for here we are in a desolate place.”  But He said to them, “You give them something to eat!” And they said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless perhaps we go and buy food for all these people.”  (For there were about five thousand men.) And He said to His disciples, “Have them sit down to eat in groups of about fifty each.”  They did so, and had them all sit down.  Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed them, and broke them, and kept giving them to the disciples to set before the people.  And they all ate and were satisfied; and the broken pieces which they had left over were picked up, twelve baskets full.

There are two occasions in which the Bible records Jesus  miraculously feeding the many.  One account gives five thousand being fed and another four thousand.  These are different feedings and today’s gives the account of the feeding for the five thousand. It is yet another way in which Jesus reperforms miracles of the Old Testament in His generation.  While Moses saw God’s feeding of the Children of Israel with Manna from Heaven, Jesus shows that he is greater than Moses as He, in the person of God, performs the feeding.  Jesus doesn’t want to draw too much attention on bread that will perish because it is temporary in nature, but desires that He be viewed as the Bread of Life and that whoever partakes of it will never hunger and will inherit eternal life.

Daily Prayer:  Lord Jesus, I recognize You as the True Savior and the True Bread that satisfies.  Apart from You, there is no life, but whoever abides in You will never perish and inherit everlasting life with you.  Amen. 

Luke 9:1-6 God Sent Abraham To Represent Him, Jesus Sent His Disciples, But Now Sends You

When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”  So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.

The disciples were sent out to be Jesus’ representative.  He equipped them, but also protected them in the same way He protected Abraham.  Abraham likewise was sent from his native home to a land that God would show him. Whoever blessed him, God will bless, but whoever curses him, likewise God will curse, but God will bless the nations through him.  In the same way, Jesus sent the disciples out, but expected His followers to receive them into their homes.  To those who honored them, Jesus will leave His peace.  But whoever rejects them, likewise Jesus will reject.  This is because those who do it to the least of these, they have also done unto Him.

Daily Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You have sent me into the world, not to join the world, but to represent You in it.  I have seen Your mighty protection over me and You have upheld me in all that I do.  In the same manner, send all who hear this message today to represent You in this high calling and to bring the knowledge of sin’s forgiveness to all that need to hear.  In Your holy name I pray Amen.

Luke 8:49-56 Jesus Raises The Dead Unto Life

While He was still speaking, someone came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, “Your daughter has died; do not trouble the Teacher anymore.”  But when Jesus heard this, He answered him, “ Do not be afraid any longer; only believe, and she will be made well.”  When He came to the house, He did not allow anyone to enter with Him, except Peter and John and James, and the girl’s father and mother.  Now they were all weeping and lamenting for her; but He said, “Stop weeping, for she has not died, but is asleep.”  And they began laughing at Him, knowing that she had died.  He, however, took her by the hand and called, saying, “Child, arise!”  And her spirit returned, and she got up immediately; and He gave orders for something to be given her to eat.  Her parents were amazed; but He instructed them to tell no one what had happened.

Laughter is rarely a sign of faith.  Sarah laughed when she heard God say that she would have a child in her old age, and behold, she bore the son named Isaac, the Covenant Son.

In this lesson, large crowds of people were aware of Jesus’ healing power, Yet when Jesus appeared in the house of a synagogue leaders home for the sake of a dead child, they laughed at Jesus instead of beseeching Him.  Even in the midst of  their disbelief, Jesus raises a dead child unto life, but warned them to tell nobody, because He didn’t want to raise all dead relatives back to life.  So if the parents did not believe, why did Jesus do it.  He did it to prove that He is the begotten Son of God and has the power to grant life and to take it.

Daily Prayer:  Lord it is true that You build up and You tear down.  You make life and take it away.  By Your power and strength, work these kind of miracles in my day so that many may come to You and believe.  In Jesus name I pray Amen.

Luke 8:41-48 Take Heart, Because Jesus Cares For You

And there came a man named Jairus, and he was an official of the synagogue; and he fell at Jesus’ feet, and began to implore Him to come to his house;  for he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, and she was dying. But as He went, the crowds were pressing against Him.  And a woman who had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and could not be healed by anyone,  came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak, and immediately her hemorrhage stopped.  And Jesus said, “Who is the one who touched Me?” And while they were all denying it, Peter said, “ Master, the people are crowding and pressing in on You.”  But Jesus said, “Someone did touch Me, for I was aware that power had gone out of Me.”  When the woman saw that she had not escaped notice, she came trembling and fell down before Him, and declared in the presence of all the people the reason why she had touched Him, and how she had been immediately healed.  And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”

In Jesus’ time, since He was the worker of many signs and wonders, people who were ill and distraught sought Him even though Jesus is accompanied by large crowds.  In today’s instance, a woman who has been ill for a very long time got within distance enough to touch his garment.  Immediately power went out from Jesus’ being and the woman was made well.  Jesus inquired who touched Him.  The disciples were amazed that He questioned someone touching His garment because He was in large crowds accompanied by the many.  But Jesus explained that in His healing, power rushes out of Him to the person needing healing.  Jesus locates the woman and speaks gingerly to her calling her “daughter,” as if it were spoken by a father.  He explains to her and the onlookers that it was her faith in His person that made her well and he comforted her.

Daily Prayer:  Jesus, strengthen me in my faith in my trust of You.  When my circumstances seem foul able, reassure my soul to trust in You, because You care for me. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

Luke 8:22-25 Jesus Stills the Sea

Now on one of those days Jesus and His disciples got into a boat, and He said to them, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they launched out.  But as they were sailing along He fell asleep; and a fierce gale of wind descended on the lake, and they began to be swamped and to be in danger.  They came to Jesus and woke Him up, saying, “ Master, Master, we are perishing!” And He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and they stopped, and it became calm.  And He said to them, “Where is your faith?” They were fearful and amazed, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?”

In your life, be careful when people use the word “obey.”  We see commercials saying “obey your thirst” and other such commands. When Satan was tempting Jesus, his only request was that Jesus “obey” him.  If obey is not used in the context of obeying God, you can be sure it is from Satan.  In today’s text, Jesus only says two sentences.  The first is “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.”

If Jesus said it, you can be sure that they will get to the other side.

Then Jesus says “Where is your faith?” The stormy waters were a test for His disciples that they failed.  They didn’t believe without doubting that what Jesus said is true.  Jesus conforms His deity when he commands the waters to be still and they obey Him.  All of nature obey God, except mankind who often doubt Him.

Daily Prayer:  Create in me a heart of obedience.  I can do no good work on my own, but if You give me faith that doesn’t doubt, I can do anything through the God that strengthens me.  In Jesus name I pray Amen.

Luke 8:19-21 Those Who Do My Father's Will Desire To Know Him In An Intimate Way

And His mother and brothers came to Him, and they were unable to get to Him because of the crowd.  And it was reported to Him, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, wishing to see You.”  But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”

Jesus often said things among His family that we find surprising.  As a twelve year old child, when his parents lost his whereabouts and finally found him, he said, “Did you not know I would be in my Father’s house doing His business.?”  Now again, Mary seeks her son Jesus and He replies, “Those who hear my Father’s word and do it are my mother, sister, and brother.”  His first loyalty was not to earthly family, but His Father in heaven.  This should be our first loyalty also.  If we will ever see the Father’s glory, our loyalty will change as well.

Daily Prayer:  Father, show us Your glory.  We seek to  know You better than what our fleshly perception can see.  You revealed Yourself in certain ways to Moses, Paul, and Jesus’ disciples.  Do it once again for this generation who seeks repentance and desires intimacy with You.  In Jesus name I pray Amen. 

Luke 8:4-15 Parable of the Sower

When a large crowd was coming together, and those from the various cities were journeying to Him, He spoke by way of a parable:  “The sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell beside the road, and it was trampled under foot and the birds of the air ate it up.  Other seed fell on rocky soil, and as soon as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture.  Other seed fell among the thorns; and the thorns grew up with it and choked it out.  Other seed fell into the good soil, and grew up, and produced a crop a hundred times as great.” As He said these things, He would call out, “ He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”  His disciples began questioning Him as to what this parable meant. And He said, “ To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.  “Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God.  Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved.  Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away.  The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.  But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.

There is some disagreement on the meaning of this parable.  I teach that once saved always saved.  In other words, when a person comes to saving faith, the Holy Spirit indwells the saint forever and begins a work of sanctification and brings it to fruition.

Jesus declares, nobody can snatch them out of my hand.  Others who read this text say that those who are of rocky or thorny soil, have faith, but lose it in time of trial.  But that is not what the text says.  Jesus explains to his disciples that the seed is the “word of God,” not saving faith.  And some are not able to perceive it due to adverse circumstances.  It never says that they had saving faith and lost it.  The reason that one cannot lose faith is because we don’t choose God, instead He chooses us and does not change His mind about the matter.

Daily Prayer:  Father, it is indeed a blessing that You do the choosing and the bestowing of faith.  Indeed what You do lasts and whatever You do, You bring to completion for the Day of or deliverance.  In Your holy name I pray Amen.

Luke 7:40-50 Love, Faith, & Forgiveness - This is the Kingdom of Heaven In Our Time

And Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he replied, “Say it, Teacher.”  “A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.  When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?”  Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly. Turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.  You gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet.  You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.”  Then He said to her, “ Your sins have been forgiven.”  Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “ Who is this man who even forgives sins?” ⁵⁰ And He said to the woman, “ Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

This is the second time where Jesus healed someone and forgave their sins.  The first was the man who was lame and Jesus healed him by saying “Your sins are forgiven, get up and walk.”  What is interesting is that He is forgiving sins in advance of the Cross, just as He raised people from the dead before His resurrection.  The message is one of faith and love.  He stated the clear message when He said “He who forgives little, loves little.

Daily Prayer:  Father, we love, but not the agape love that You show.  By Your Spirit, place in our mortal bodies the ability to love in a hesed way.  Since this is not natural to humankind, give us this quality in a divine way.  In Your holy name I pray Amen.

Luke 7:36-39 In This World There Will Be Trouble

“To what then shall I compare the men of this generation, and what are they like?  They are like children who sit in the market place and call to one another, and they say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’  For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’  The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’  Yet wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”

The old say goes, “Don’t confuse me with the facts, because I have already made up my mind.”  This is what we have with the sect called the Pharisees’.  They wanted a monopoly over honor, power, and glory, and the opposed any one or any thing that diverted the attention of the people away from them.  John the Baptist was perceived as a prophet sent by God and was extra-ordinary in appearance.  Jesus was perceived as the people’s Messiah.  The Pharisees are identified with Satan in the Biblical text, because they oppose God’s anointed.  Whenever Satan cannot control someone or something, his pat answer is to destroy it.  John was beheaded and Jesus crucified.

Daily Prayer:  Father, Christian persecution is still present with us today, and will remain until Christ returns.  From now until then, arm us with Your armor so that we may stand in Christ’s name until His return.  In Jesus  name I pray Amen.

comments

Luke 7:25-28 John defined, & the Kingdom of Heaven Explainend

But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who are splendidly clothed and live in luxury are found in royal palaces!  But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and one who is more than a prophet.  This is the one about whom it is written,

‘ Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You,
Who will prepare Your way before You.’

 I say to you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

Jesus is once again driving home his message concerning the  Kingdom of Heaven.  He uses John the Baptist as His benchmark.  He knew that people were fascinated by His appearance and his message.  Now, Jesus is saying that if You think he is a man of righteousness, understand this, that all who dwell in the Kingdom of Heaven are greater than that.  Behold I say to you come.

Daily Prayer:  God sent His son to draw them back to Him.  Over and over He  gives signs of His Kingdom, where He reins as King.  Draw us even today to You and Your Kingdom so that we may dwell in the House of the Lord forever.  In Jesus name I pray Amen.

Luke 7:19-23 Who Do People Say That I Am?

^Summoning two of his disciples, John sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?” When the men came to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, to ask, ‘Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?’” At that very time He cured many people of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits; and He gave sight to many who were blind. And He answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have the gospel preached to them. Blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.”

Isn’t it surprising that when God comes to visit His children in the form of a man in the Person of Jesus Christ, people do not even recognize their King? How do you suppose that makes Him feel? Jesus, who is very God of very God, demonstrates godly power by raising a man from the dead and even His appointed prophet wonders if He is the One?

Indeed, nobody under the sound of my voice hasn’t had similar doubts. Today’s saints have the great advantage of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit who quiets our fears. In time, Jesus will condemn this generation which consists of all people who were born after His birth, because they are not a trusting and faithful generation. Because of our lack of faith, He will limit the godly signs He will give us. He will declare that “My grace is sufficient for you.”

Daily Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for sending the Holy Spirit to quiet my fears. Thank you for the salvation you have earned for me on the Cross so that I don’t have to earn Your favor. Instead, let me walk by faith and live according to Your will so that by Your grace, I will be a disciple for You until You come for me at my very end. In Your holy name I pray Amen.

Luke 7:11-18 a Widow's Son is raised & the report to John the Baptist

Soon afterwards He went to a city called Nain; and His disciples were going along with Him, accompanied by a large crowd. Now as He approached the gate of the city, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a sizeable crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her, and said to her, “Do not weep.” And He came up and touched the coffin; and the bearers came to a halt. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise!” The dead man sat up and began to speak. And Jesus gave him back to his mother. Fear gripped them all, and they began glorifying God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and, “God has visited His people!” This report concerning Him went out all over Judea and in all the surrounding district. The disciples of John reported to him about all these things.

The proper response to Christ the Messiah, is a gripping fear of Him. This may sound strange to the ears of those who cling to “God is love,” and while God is love, He is also God and deserving of fear. Jesus Christ, the Son of God is also Truly God. Jesus came from on high and visited His people to demonstrate that He is God and there is no other.His message is the Kingdom of Heaven and His work is salvation for those who come to Him with full faith that He is the One to deliver them from their sins. So come to Him today and confess your sins to him so that His compassion may be for you. In His holy name I pray Amen.

Luke 7:1-10 What "Great Faith" Looks Like

When He had completed all His discourse in the hearing of the people, He went to Capernaum. And a centurion’s slave, who was highly regarded by him, was sick and about to die. When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders asking Him to come and save the life of his slave. When they came to Jesus, they earnestly implored Him, saying, “He is worthy for You to grant this to him; for he loves our nation and it was he who built us our synagogue.” Now Jesus started on His way with them; and when He was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself further, for I am not worthy for You to come under my roof; for this reason I did not even consider myself worthy to come to You, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man placed under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled at him, and turned and said to the crowd that was following Him, “I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith.” When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.

This is one of t he great episodes recorded in the gospels. We know that for those who have faith, they will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. In all of Jesus’ ministry, He was seeking those who could “believe without seeing.” Great faith to Jesus, is the total conviction that what they ask in His name will come to pass and never doubt Him. This kind of faith dictates your walk in life and determines where you go and what you think and say. To travel out of your territory to see Jesus with the expectation of His bringing wellness is the way in which Jesus desires for us to live. Can we do it? Can the church do it? Do we have the kind of faith that can move mountains? This is what Jesus requires for all who have the Holy Spirit living in them.

Daily Prayer: Lord Jesus, You have already equipped us by placing the Holy Spirit in us. If we live in such a way so as not to grieve the Spirit, then we will have the kind of faith that You intended for Your disciples. Let it be as You say Amen.

Luke 6:46-49 Builders and Foundations

“ Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.”

What is your story? Do you find yourself to be constantly in a hurry? Do you take the time and show the care to have a solid foundation in all that you do, or is your life better described as folly if the truth were known? Acting with wisdom does not come naturally. One must think before you do something, because every thing that you do, cannot be undone. Everything is manifest, for better or for worse. Important matters need to be seen everyday and made central in all that we do. When Jesus was a child, He declared he was about His Father’s business, and so we must be also.

Daily Prayer: Lord Jesus, You died on the Cross to pay the penalty for my sins, so that I would not have to perish, but receive eternal life. Then You gave me but One Command: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Let it be as You say. Amen.

Luke 6:36-45 Be Merciful and Judge Not Your Neighbor

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. “ Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned. Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.” And He also spoke a parable to them: “ A blind man cannot guide a blind man, can he? Will they not both fall into a pit? A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher. Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye. For there is no good tree which produces bad fruit, nor, on the other hand, a bad tree which produces good fruit. For each tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush. The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.

In this sequence, Jesus first blesses those who long for the values of the Kingdom of Heaven. Then He presents a series of “woes” to those who have received their full reward on earth, but have forfeited Heavenly treasures and everlasting reward. Next, Jesus exhorts believers to “love our enemy” because this is in keeping with Jesus who is our example. Finally He commands our mercy, because one who is truly good on the inside will show the value of his fruit by lending mercy and grace to our brother and our neighbor. This is easily shown by judging not, lest we lend ourselves to be judged by the same measure.

Daily Prayer: Lord, show us who we are apart from You so that we will be slow to judge and lend mercy without hesitation. By doing so, maybe others will come to know the love of God through me. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

Luke 6: 28-35 Love Your Enemy & Be Kind To Evil Men Says Jesus

Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. Treat others the same way you want them to treat you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.

Once again, Jesus continues with hard teaching. He says to be good to those who mistreat you and to love ungrateful and evil men! We have to remember, so once were we. In our flesh, we are born enemies to God and separated from Him. But when Jesus gets hold of the soul, crazy things happen. One then realizes that whatever we do to the least of these my brothers, we have done unto Jesus! Can you see why the Cross was so hard to bear? It was as much of an emotional-spiritual draining as a torment of the flesh. Jesus died for sinful people and He died for you.

Daily Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your love is different than worldly love. In our world, when we give love, we expect it in return. In the Kingdom of Heaven, love is one-way, that is, it does not require a return in equal measure. Transform me, Lord Jesus, to show Your kind of love. In Your holy name I pray Amen.

Luke 6:24-27 Woe To Those Who Seek Worldly Wealth

But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full. Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way. “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.

A constant theme in the gospels is that the last will be first, and the first will be last. Of course, this sounds like foolishness to the world, but they haven’t even heard of the Kingdom of Heaven. Perhaps more surprising, however, is when we see Christians groping for worldly wealth. The problem with worldly wealth is that it is designed to sever a Father-child relationship to the God who owns all wealth and makes the Adamic self feel that they can get along without Godly sustenance.

This was the sin of the Old-Adam and remains our sin too if we slight our dependence on the God of glory.

Daily Prayer: Lord God, bless me in such a way that my only blessing is my daily bread. This way I find myself at Your door every day, seeking my life from Your hand and not from the serpent who tries to copy You, replacing temporal wealth for everlasting support. Let us not be satisfied with that which by its nature was never made to last. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

Luke 6:22-23 The Battle Is The Lord's

Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. ²³ Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets.

The battle is the Lord’s, but we are His foot-soldiers. Like it or not, our battle is not of flesh and blood, but one against powers, principalities, and dark forces who are the soldiers for the Evil One. But we belong to Christ and as such are the enemies of the world. Jesus tells us that if the world crucified Him, the world will spite His believers. Before Christ’s advent, the prophets were God’s spokes-persons. Today, disciples of Jesus lead the way continuing the earthly work of Christ with Him as our Leader.

Daily Prayer: Lord Jesus, we do depend on You alone for the battle that we face every day. Strengthen us in spirit and in faith to work your work and walk your walk. In your holy name I pray Amen.

Luke 6:20-21 Blessed Are The Poor, The Hungry, And The Weeping Because They Will Be Comforted

And turning His gaze toward His disciples, He began to say,“ Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.”

Starting today, we will be going through Jesus’ teaching from the Sermon on the Mount. The beatitudes are part of that teaching where the verses begin with the words “blessed.” The words from the first beatitude in a natural sense seem confusing. Blessed are the “poor,” those who hunger, and those who weep. What blessing is Jesus speaking of? Jesus instructs us about the Kingdom of Heaven and the values of the Kingdom of God. Those who are His, but in the world today, are separated from the True Home which is with the Father in Heaven. We are His workmen, here, and as such suffer when absent from Him. What the world calls rich, God calls poor. Riches are temporary, God’s abiding presence is forever. The poor are those absent from Heaven and God’s glory. There is no replacement for it here. God’s ways which are just are not the ways of the world. The poor are those who long to be with God and benefit from His ways and favor. Blessed are those who hunger. Not those who hunger for food which is temporary nourishment for the body, but those who hunger for justice, righteousness, and the honor of God which is tainted in the world. These who hunger will in due time be satisfied when God brings them home. Blessed for those who weep. Jesus Himself wept over Jerusalem. Jesus spoke how He longed to be a mother to them, but they would not. Fear not, Jesus explains, because those who weep for God will be made happy for Him, because His arm is not short and He can save. So Blessed are the poor, the hungry and the weeping, because God knows their needs and will satisfy them.

Daily Prayer: Father, You do indeed know our groaning and they matter to you. Raise us up by faith to trust in You to cure the anxiety of our absence from Heaven and direct company with You. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

Luke 6:1-5 Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath

Now it happened that He was passing through some grain fields on a Sabbath; and His disciples were picking the heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating the grain. But some of the Pharisees said, “Why do you do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” And Jesus answering them said, “Have you not even read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him, how he entered the house of God, and took and ate the consecrated bread which is not lawful for any to eat except the priests alone, and gave it to his companions?” And He was saying to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

The issue in today’s lesson is “legalism.” The Law of Moses was intended to be a reflection of God’s heart toward us. It is a matter of defining the letter of the law verses the intent of the law. Legalism gets caught up in entrapping people based on the letter of the law when the intent may be entirely different. To practice legalism, one is trying to entrap God Himself from expressing His true desires over men for the sake of making ones own self appear better than their fellow man thus blaspheming God Himself.

Daily Prayer: Father, we have been taught to seek relationship with You and Your Son Jesus Christ. Relationship supersedes false barriers caused by pride and builds meaningful experience between us. Give us the wisdom to practice such things, and to drop our false walls of price that come between us and our neighbors. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

Luke 5:36-39 Put On The New Man And Die To Your Flesh

And He was also telling them a parable: “No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and puts it on an old garment; otherwise he will both tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. ³⁷ And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled out, and the skins will be ruined.³⁸ But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. ³⁹ And no one, after drinking old wine wishes for new; for he says, ‘The old is good enough.’”

Why is Jesus teaching about wineskins? What is the point? He is using a common metaphor to bring out the comparison between the distinction between the flesh of humans and their spiritual self. The flesh is the Old Man who is destined to die where the spirit is the one which is reborn of the Spirit and created for life-everlasting not yielding to the temptations and diseases of the flesh. Once a person is born of the Spirit, they do not return to their flesh which is sick and destined to die, but instead abides with the Spirit where there is hope and life.

Daily Prayer: For each of us Lord Jesus, create in us new life which is born of the Spirit. By doing so, it insures our everlasting life with You and all that You died for. In Your Holy Name I pray Amen.

Luke 5:27-35 Come To Jesus In Spirit And In Truth

After that He went out and noticed a tax collector namedLevi sitting in the tax booth, and He said to him, “Follow Me.” And he left everything behind, and got up and began to follow Him. And Levi gave a big reception for Him in his house; and there was a great crowd of tax collectors and other people who were reclining at the table with them. The Pharisees and their scribes began grumbling at His disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?” And Jesus answered and said to them, “ It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” And they said to Him, “ The disciples of John often fast and offer prayers, the disciples of the Pharisees also do the same, but Yours eat and drink.” And Jesus said to them, “You cannot make the attendants of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them, can you? But the days will come; and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.”

Jesus’ opponents live their lives trying to please God by the work of their hands, when God cannot be pleased in this way. They declare their own self-righteousness by declaring their discipline of fasting and contrast that with the follower’s of Jesus who do not fast. They feel that they can know the condition of one’s heart based on that. Jesus reminds his adversary that He and His bride (His followers) have a relationship based on heart and He desires not their fasting while He is with them. But the days are coming when Jesus will be removed by way of the Cross and then His followers will sacrifice.

Lord Jesus, it is by grace I am saved and not by my work. By Your grace, my sins have been set aside and remembered no more. Let those who seek you, seek you in spirit and in truth, loving you instead of trying to please you. This is my hope for today Amen

Luke 5: 16-26 By Christ's Work, The Paralyzed Man Can Walk

But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray. One day He was teaching; and there were some Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was present for Him to perform healing. And some men were carrying on a bed a man who was paralyzed; and they were trying to bring him in and to set him down in front of Him. But not finding any way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down through the tiles with his stretcher, into the middle of the crowd, in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, He said,” Friend, your sins are forgiven you.” The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “ Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?” But Jesus, aware of their reasoning, answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins have been forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But, so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,”—He said to the paralytic—“I say to you, get up, and pick up your stretcher and go home.” Immediately he got up before them, and picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God. They were all struck with astonishment and began glorifying God; and they were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen remarkable things today.”

I was thinking of these verses as I lay down to sleep last night. If Jesus were a mathematician, he could say that 2 + 2 = 4 in the same way that 4 = 2 + 2. Which is more right? Instead, the Spiritual Man Jesus says which is easier to say: Your sins are forgiven = a person who is well or a person who is well = is blessed with spirituality and knows God. Illness originally was brought about by sin, so it made all the sense in the world to Jesus to cure the root problem so that the fruit would prosper.

Daily Prayer: Lord Jesus, let us not spend our time being argumentative. Instead let us throw our support behind You, knowing that you are both the Son of God and the Son of Man who loves us and has laid down Your life for us so that we may live and never perish. In Your Blessed Name I pray Amen.