Lesson 1730

(Lesson 1730)(07-07-16) Luke 9:1-6

"Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece. And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart. And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them. And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where."

In today's quote, before sending them out to prepare their fellow Jews for the kingdom of God, Jesus gave them power over all devils and diseases. They were to rely strictly upon faith for their sustenance and wellbeing.

Today, every born again child of God has the same power over the devil and his diseases that was given to those apostles, so long as they have absolute faith in Jesus Christ. This is the promise Jesus made to us, "For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith." (Mark 11:23)

Therefore, it is duty of the faithful to keep and exercise that faith by praying without ceasing for the health and wellbeing of those around us and for those things that advance the will of God in our lives.~

Lesson 1729

(Lesson 1729)(07-06-16) Luke 8:40-56

"And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him. And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and besought him that he would come into his house: For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him. And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched. And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me. And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him and how she was healed immediately. And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace. While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master. But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole. And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden. And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise. And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat. And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done."

Today's quote tells us of how Jesus both healed the woman and raised the young girl from the dead. Both miracles are examples of how faith in Jesus Christ can accomplish anything.~

Lesson 1728

(Lesson 1728)(07-05-16) Luke 8:26-39

"And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee. And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not. (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.) And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him. And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep. And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them. Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked. When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country. Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed. Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again. Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying, Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him."

Today's quote relates how Jesus cast out the devils who had controlled a certain Gadarene.

It is important to note that even the devils recognized Jesus as the "Son of God most high".

In the latter part of the quote, the redeemed man wanted to go and follow Jesus but was denied because he could do more for the cause of Jesus by witnessing to his own people about the miraculous thing Jesus had done for him.~

Lesson 1727

(Lesson 1727)(07-04-16) Luke 8:22-25

"Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth. But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him."

Today's quote again demonstrates that Jesus has power over all things in the earth, including the wind and the sea. It also demonstrates the weakness of the faith of mankind in that even those apostles who had witnessed the many miracles Jesus had performed, were still stunned by His awesome power.

It would serve us well to remember that through the Holy Spirit, that same power is available to every child of God who has sufficient faith. "For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith." (Mark 11:23)

Sadly there are few who can muster that much faith. Does that statistic mean that many of those who profess Christianity don't really believe what we teach? Sadly, the answer to that question is yes. "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." (James 2:26) Therefore, every child of God should wake up their dead faith and practice it daily knowing that Faith has NO limits. If there's something, anything you want that is within the limits of God's will, pray for it believing God will answer your prayer, and you WILL get your desired answer.~

Lesson 1726

(Lesson 1726)(07-03-16) Luke 8:19-21

"Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press. And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it."

In today's quote, Jesus made the distinction between His earthly kinship to His mother and brothers and separated them from His spiritual kinship.

Jesus, in essence, declared that His true brothers and sisters are, and will be, those who accept His word and truly become, as He is, the children of God in mankind.

It is important to note that by accepting Christ as our savior and putting absolute faith in His righteousness as a substitute for our sins, forgiveness and redemption, we actually become the children of God, the true spiritual brothers and sisters of Jesus; "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name". (John 1:12)~

Lesson 1725

(Lesson 1725)(07-02-16) Luke 8:1-18

"And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him, And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance. And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable: A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be? And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light. For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad. Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have."

In today's lesson, Jesus told the parable of the sower. When His apostles asked what it meant, He explained that there would only be a few who would devotedly receive His word accept it, and teach it to others. Jesus also explained why He used the parable: He said, "Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others" (It is given) "in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand." In other words, Jesus never intended for the people who had gathered to understand what He meant by His use of the parable. That was because the "mystery" of His gospel would not be perfected until He had undergone His sacrificial ordeal and returned to the Father in heaven. It was necessary for His apostles to understand because they would be required to teach His gospel in His absence. "For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad. Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have."~

Lesson 1724

(Lesson 1724)(07-01-16) Luke 7:36-50

"And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace."

Today's quote relates how much more forgiveness means to those of us who have lived our lives on the underside of society where sin rules everything. To those who are only guilty of a minor misdeed, forgiveness don't necessarily mean that much. But, to people like me, who have lived a life that has been, for the most part, totally contrary to the will of God, His forgiveness is the most precious thing in our lives.

In the last part of today's quote, Jesus forgave the sins of the woman with the alabaster box. Jesus said, "Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace."

God's forgiveness has already been granted to every soul who has learned the word of God and who has put his/her faith in the virgin borne life, death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. That soul is sealed until the day of redemption by the Holy Spirit of God; "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

My encouragement to everyone who will listen is that you study God's word from Genesis 1 all the way through the final amen in the Revelation. If you do that, you will learn the way of eternal salvation, it is simple; "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." (John 5:24) "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)~