Luke 4-5: Amazing Surprises!

The Luke 4:1-13, wilderness account of the temptation of Jesus stirs courage in me.  Jesus was tempted in three domains...his physical need for food, his exclusive worship of God, and his trust in God's protection. 

On each point, Jesus prevailed by referencing the written Word of God.  In my case, I have been tempted to become anxious regarding some very specific prayer requests, which lay heavily upon my heart.  The Lord countered this ongoing temptation by His Word in my spirit.  I keep hearing, "Trust Me," yet the prayers seemingly remain unanswered.  

Last week, during the middle of the night, I had been tossing and turning because my hip was aching (I hadn't stretched properly after a workout).  The thought came to me that I hadn't yet asked the Lord about the coming year.  Before I could even finish the thought, the Lord said, "Amazing Surprises."  Immediately, I thought of the ongoing, unanswered prayers and how God keeps encouraging me to trust Him.  

I'm excited to experience 2016's "Amazing Surprises."  I am so thankful for God's continued and numerous interventions in 2015.

Friends, let me encourage you to seek God's Word for your personal 2016.  He is such a good Encourager and Guide!
 

Matthew 4: Every and All Diseases and Weaknesses

Matthew 4:23-24

Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)

23 And He went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the good news (Gospel) of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every weakness and infirmity among the people.

24 So the report of Him spread throughout all Syria, and they brought Him all who were sick, those afflicted with various diseases and torments, those under the power of demons, and epileptics, and paralyzed people, and He healed them.

 

 

It is important to meditate on these familiar verses regarding the healing ministry of Jesus.  Every and all are commonly used words in the English language, but do we pause long enough to consider their meaning?

 

Every "precede[s a] singular noun and [is] used to refer to all the individual members of a set without exception"(Google, 2015).

 

All is "used to refer to the whole quantity or extent of a particular group or thing"(Google, 2015).

 

In other words, the identified verses could be rewritten for emphasis.  

 

Verse 23:  And He went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the good news (Gospel) of the kingdom, and healing all the individual members who suffered from disease without exception and all the individual members who suffered from weakness and infirmity without exception among the set of people.  

 

Verse 24: So the report of Him spread throughout all Syria, and they brought Him the whole quantity or extent of a particular group who were sick, those afflicted with various diseases and torments, those under the power of demons, and epileptics, and paralyzed people, and He healed them.

 

 

Holy Spirit please help us to wrap our heads and hearts around these two little words..."every" and "all."  Cause all doubts and lack of faith to flee in the name of Jesus!  Empower us to arise with His healing power in our hands, words and actions.  Let our whispers be filled with faith, not despair.  In the great and awesome healing name of Jesus, AMEN!!!

 

 

Luke 3: It Shall Be Made Straight

Luke 3:5-6
Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)

5 Every valley and ravine shall be filled up, and every mountain and hill shall be leveled; and the crooked places shall be made straight, and the rough roads shall be made smooth; 6 And all mankind shall see (behold and understand and at last acknowledge) the salvation of God (the deliverance from eternal death decreed by God).


You are definitely speaking, Lord! This past Sunday, the Isaiah version of the above verse was used as a base for the sermon.  You highlighted this verse almost two weeks ago, Lord.   

What are You trying to say? 
 

Let's be real and raw...


Yes, You have filled up every valley and ravine!

Yes, You have straightened the crooked places in my life.

Yes, the rough roads have been smoothed.

I have been blessed so much more than comprehension, YES, YES, YES!!!

Yet, new valleys and ravines present themselves.  Although, much smoother and straighter than in previous seasons, my path remains in need of a Savior.  

Every moment of every day, I need a Savior!

I can't imagine living without my Savior!  

Jesus, stir my soul.  Breathe, new life on its embers.  Let passion and praise arise for You.  In Your holy and precious Name, AMEN!

Mark 1: In You I Am Well Pleased

Mark 1:10-11
Amplified Bible Classic Edition (AMPC)
 
And when He came up out of the water, at once he [John] saw the heavens torn open and the [Holy] Spirit like a dove coming down to enter into Him. And there came a voice out from within heaven, You are My Beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.


As an adolescent, my self-worth was skewed.  Unfortunately, this lack of self-love continued on into my mid-thirties.  I had believed the lie that performance, perfect performance, was the means to gain the approval of others.  I reasoned that if I was accepted by others, then I could love myself.  I had been deceived. This mindset kept me self-focused, constantly evaluating the quality of my performance and people's reaction to that performance.  

Self-focus distracts from God-focus!

My healing from self-focus is a work in progress.  As human beings, all of have a self-focus pull, and a certain amount of self-assessment is healthy.  

In the workforce, I am constantly assessing my performance, not as a means of eliciting others' approval, but in order to provide the best possible care of others. This is wise.

My healing from unhealthy self-focus began when I slowed down enough to focus on God.  What was He saying?  Wow, what an Encourager!  

Years ago, the Lord directed me to invite a co-worker for a Bible study in my home.  I was so SCARED and the self-focused thoughts screamed...


Would she think I'm a holy roller?

Would she belittle and tease me?

Would her friends find out about the invitation and shun me because of my boldness?


Pushing through the fear, I obeyed.    

The next morning during my prayer time, I heard...
 "My beloved daughter in You I am well-pleased."

Let me make something clear.  God doesn't love us because we are perfect in our obedience.  He loves us because of Jesus righteousness covering our mishaps and mistakes.  He loves us just because.

We can make the mistake of thinking we need to maintain a "perfect performance" for the Lord.  This too, cause our focus to shift from Jesus and towards ourselves.  He is pleased with us when our heart desires to do right, no matter the outcome.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let's "chill out."   We don't need to work for His love, we already have His love!  

This Christmas season, focus on the beauty of Jesus and His precious gift to us.  Worship Him.  Retreat from the many responsibilities of this world to sit at His feet.  I promise you, the Prince of Peace will come and fill your heart with the true Spirit of Christmas!