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Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
As Jesus Christ begins His ministry, He exposes what had been hidden. Light showed up darkness! The authoritative commanding word of God had been released.
We are in the closing verses of Luke Chapter 4.
Verse 36. A tormented man who knew who Jesus Christ was, was set free from the evil spirit, which had been disrupting and destroying his life.
The people in Capernaum were amazed at what they had witnessed and they began to speak amongst each other! Does that sound familiar?
When Jesus Christ ministers there can be various reactions and responses.
Jesus walked the 100 yards to the home of Simon Peter, where Peter’s mother-in-law has a raging fever. They ask Jesus for help.
We see that time and time again. People ask for help.
Jesus never went running and rushing around healing all the sick, and ministering indiscriminately to every need, but when invited, He responded.
She is healed and cured, and raised up to serve.
This is all happening on the Sabbath Day, and we read the sun is setting.
Can you imagine that scene as needy men and women who had little chance of recovery and freedom and wellbeing are brought to Jesus? News of Jesus had travelled fast.
People who were suffering – sick – ill - paralysed – in pain – tormented – are brought to Jesus Christ, the Son of God, for healing, and Jesus healed them ALL.
v 41 Jesus would not allow the evil spirits to speak, even though what they were saying was true. It is a lesson we have to wrestle with and learn.
People can say the right things without the Spirit of God. They can say all the right things, for the wrong reasons.
Jesus Christ is firm when confronted with evil.
Jesus needs a break. He is drained and exhausted, but people seek Him out. They want Him to stay with them, but He has to minister in other places too!
That is the Father’s Will. The ministry of Jesus Christ is to reach a wider circle.
Jesus would not do what He wanted to do - nor what the people wanted Him to do - but what the Father wanted Him to do. Jesus was a Father-pleaser.
The enemy, of whom we read in these verses, will seek to break up the work of God, or stop the work of God, or hinder and hamper it, and we must ever be aware of that.
It is good to take time and read and understand the various reactions, as Jesus Christ began to minister among needy people.
After all, this is why God the Father sent His Son into the world. It would be most sad to miss what is central.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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