Woe or Blessing

N.T.#518 "Woe or Blessing"

March 31, 2025 

Luke 6-Part 8

LET IT GLOW 

Are you rejoicing today? Jesus gave us 4 scenarios in which we are to be happy in spite of our circumstances. If you missed them, be sure to read the previous posts. Today we are going to read about 4 woes which Jesus gave unto His disciples. 

A woe is a mournful moan uttered in response to personal anguish or prompted by pity for the suffering of another. Persecution places believers in the same heroic category as martyred Old Testament prophets.  (Swindoll)

1. Sorrow awaits you who are rich, for you have your only happiness now. The love of money is the root of all evil. Rich people tend to be self-sufficient and not depend upon God. We should desire to be rich in faith instead of rich in money and material things.
2. What sorrow awaits you who are full/ fat and prosperous now, for a time of awful hunger awaits you. Be hungry for God's Word and spiritual things instead of worldly things.
3. Sorrow awaits you who laugh now, for your laughing will turn to mourning and sorrow. What awaits you in eternity-happiness in heaven or anguish in hell?
4. What sorrow awaits you who are praised by the crowds, for their ancestors also praised the false prophets. Don't seek acceptance and admiration of godless people or people of this world order. Seek to please God. (Swindoll)

Are any of those characteristics of our life?

LET IT GROW

We are to lead a quiet, respectable life and allow our good reputation in this world to become a testimony. (Romans 13)

Keep our perspective on God, our morality, our spirituality, and how the world should work based upon the Word of God. That is why we study His Word. May we not water down the Gospel and compromise its message.

LET IT GO

Help us not compromise Your Word, Father.

Keep us strong in the faith, surrendered to You.

Thank You for those who study with me. Please bless them today.

Rejoice in the Bad Days

N.T.#516 "Rejoice in the Bad Days"

March 28, 2025 

Luke 6-Part 7

LET IT GLOW

Jesus told us 4 situations in which We should acknowledge wealth is from God and use it as a steward of God. to be happy-whenever we are poor spiritually and needing God's provision, hunger for Him and His Word, weep over sin of ours and others, and we suffer for living a good Christian life. The promises of gratification are delayed often times. Some may not be rewarded unto we reach heaven. Some people are cut off from the family because of their faith. That is when trusting God becomes real. 

It is very hard when people despise you, hate you, ignore you because of what we stand for in our life. They may get convicted of their sins just being around us who are living by faith. Like the song of years ago said, "Don't worry, be happy." Well, that is easier said than done. 

Jesus told us to Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the life manner did their fathers unto the prophets. (verse 23)

He kinda went to an extreme, don't you think? To receive mistreatment on earth is to wear a badge of honor in God's kingdom. Persecution places believers in the same heroic category as martyred Old Testament prophets. (Swindoll) 

Wow! That is a privilege. We may not be jumping for joy when made fun of as a Christian, but we can have assurance that God sees what is happening to us and will reward us. How are we handling bad days?

LET IT GROW

Not only are there situations for joy, but there are woes for others.

1.  Woe unto you that are rich! For ye have received your consolation. (verse 24) Money is not evil, but the love of money is. (1 Tim. 6:10) It may cause some people to live independently of God and be self-sufficiently. Wealth should be acknowledged as from God, and used as a steward for God. (Falwell)
2. Wow unto you that are full! for you shall hunger. (verse 25a) 

Who is our comforter-God or money? Who fills us with purpose-a job or God? What about our family and friends?

LET IT GO

How is our gratefulness? Are we content with what we have? Is God our provider instead of ourself? 

Rejoice, give thanks, and sing unto our God.

Are You Happy?

N.T.#516 "Are You Happy?"

March 27, 2025 

Luke 6-Part 6

LET IT GLOW

Luke writes about the 4 blessings and 4 curses or the cost and benefits of discipleship. In other words:

1. 1. Happy are the poor in spirit, for theirs are the kingdom of God. (verse 20)
2. 2. Happy are those who hunger after spiritual things, for they will be filled. (verse 21a)
3. 3. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. (verse 21b) Tears are seeds that would yield a bumper crop of divine goodness in the future. (Ps. 126:5-6) Those who weep over all that is wrong in the world are more likely to commit themselves to making things right. 
4. 4. Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. (verse 22) 
5. 
   

We are to be happy when we receive hatred, social rejection, verbal reproach, and defamation of character simply by associating with Jesus. We will receive a blessing when we are hated for being a good Christian, living a life of testimony for Christ. Our reward may be later in heaven, but that will be worth it all.

LET IT GROW

Jesus warned against being people-pleasers. We are to be God-pleasers. Stand strong in the Lord. Put on the full armor of God so we can resist the fiery darts of the devil. Sometimes it is church members who sling cutting words at you. Is our shield of faith up so it does not cut our heart out? We just read of the divine favor and kingdom benefits that would come to Jesus' followers. 

Are we realizing we are poor in spiritual things, needing Jesus? Are we hungering after a right relationship with God? Do we weep over our sins and for the sinners? Be strong in faith dear one. God sees all you are going through.

LET IT GO

Let go of foolishness, laziness, untrustworthiness, unfaithfulness. 

Turn to Jesus in repentance.

Fill us with Your love and forgiveness, Jesus.

Poor and Hungry

 N.T.# 515 "Poor and Hungry"

MARCH 26, 2025 

LUKE 6-PART 5

LET IT GLOW

Jesus was training His disciples, although others were around to hear. The Sermon on the Mount. Matthew 5-7 also records it. 

In the Greek language, blessed means happy.

Jesus is teaching about the principles of God's kingdom, the cost and benefit of discipleship:

1. Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. (verse 20) Poverty can be in the literal sense, having nothing. Or it can be figurative describing one's attitude toward temporal wealth. Jesus became poor when He left the limitless wealth of heaven to become the son of a poor teenage girl; when He bypassed turning stones into oven-fresh loaves and feeding on the Word of God. We are blessed when we empty our hands of this world's wealth in order to cast our self on God's treasures.
2. Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. (verse 21a) Fill means satisfy. While people seek inward satisfaction through physical, external means, God calls His disciples to seek spiritual satisfaction first. Figuratively, those who long for righteousness will be satisfied in time. Jesus promises delayed gratification for those who wait. (Swindoll)

LET IT GROW

We must see our spiritual poverty before we will trust God's provision for our need. Sometimes material poverty teaches us to depend on God entirely. Only God can meet our spiritual needs.  (Falwell)

Are we hungry for what God has to offer spiritually? When we become needy spiritually, He will fill us with forgiveness, love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness-the fruit of the Spirit.

LET IT GO

Is pride standing in our way of trusting God with everything?

Only Jesus paid the price for me. Only His love can set us free. Nobody else could open heavens door. Just Jesus and nothing more.

Seeking

N.T.#514 "Seeking"

March 25, 2025 

Luke 6-Part 4

LET IT GLOW

What are you seeking? Are you looking for some hope? Is joy lacking in your life? Where do you find it all? Find out today.

He healed them all, all who came to Jesus. Jesus and His disciples came down from the mountain to minister to those in need. He had followers by this time, hundreds, if not thousands. Luke calls them disciples or devoted learners. 

What were their needs which Jesus met?

• Hear Him, for Jesus' teachings were different from the Pharisees' teachings, which were rules and laws and laws and rules to obey overwhelmingly. (verse 17)
• The people came to be healed of their diseases. 
• They were vexed (to mob; to harass) with unclean spirits. (verse 18) Jesus healed them or delivered the people with demon possession.
• The whole multitude sought to touch Jesus because virtue (miraculous power) went out of Him (verse 19)

Don't you wish you could have been there to watch Jesus healing those folks? and to be able to touch the Son of God, what a privilege they had, much less to be delivered from a disease or demons. I am sure the disciples knew Jesus was not just an ordinary man. 

What do you believe about Jesus? Is He just an ordinary man to you in an ordinary book? Or is your faith put in Jesus as the Savior, King, Son of the Living God? What about those around you?

LET IT GROW

Jesus taught about the 4 blessings and 4 curses which weigh the cost and benefits of discipleship. It is known as The Sermon on the Mount. (Matthew 5) These teachings happiness, the kind that neither depends upon earthly fortunes nor falters before temporal hardships. A "blessed" person possesses what we would call "joy."

Join us next time for that list. I think we all could use some joy in our life, right? Until then, seek grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ.

LET IT GO

Help us, Jesus, to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteous.

Twelve Men and The Master

N.T.#513 "Twelve Men and The Master"

March 24, 2025 

Luke 6-Part 3 

Isn't it a good feeling to be a part of something, to feel needed. wanted, and loved? Jesus had that effect on twelve men. Read on to find out how.

What did Jesus do after He taught in the synagogue and healed the withered hand of a man? Jesus went to a mountain to pray to God, continuing all night praying. He was preparing for the selection of a select group of men who would be responsible for instructing all of His followers. It was one of the most important decisions of His entire ministry. 

Jesus' select few became His closest companions, assisted in His miracles, shared His meals, traveled with Him everywhere to witness every moment, hear His sermons repeated a hundred times, learn to replicate His ministry, and ultimately carry on without His physical presence. This up-close-and-personal training would transform a select group of disciples into apostles. Disciple follow and learn. Apostles exercise delegated authority. (Swindoll)

Let me make a distinction-apostles (sent ones) walked with Jesus during His ministry. Others were disciples, following His teachings and watching His miracles. Jesus didn't select the brightest scholars from the temple in Jerusalem, nor from those devoted to obedience to the Law. They were ordinary men, some fishermen, a tax collector, etc.

Jesus saw His men not as what they were, but as what they were to become (verses 14-16):

1. Simon (called Peter) and his brother
2. Andrew;
3. James and his brother
4. John, sons of Zebedee;
5. Philip
6. Bartholomew (called Nathaniel)
7. Levi (called Matthew)
8. Thomas the doubter
9. James the son of Alphaeus, (the Less, shorter or younger than the other James)
10. Simon (called Zelotes)
11. Judas the brother of James, (called Thaddaeous)
12. Judas Iscariot (son of Simon Iscariot), from the city of Kerioth in southern Judea, and the traitor.

Those 12 became Jesus assistants and stood behind Him on stage, so to speak. Mark 3 also gives us these names of Jesus' hand-picked apostles. After Jesus died, some of them went on to write the Gospels, share the gospel one-on-one, and have a grand revelation of the future to record.

Has Jesus called you to follow Him? Are you an overcomer to share what Jesus has done in your life?

LET IT GROW

As the 12 came down from their mountain-top experience with Jesus, they saw people with needs for teaching, needs for healing, and needs for freedom from demons. That was the 3 categories the needs of the people fell into.  However, Jesus wasn't alone now, for He had His 12 assistants in ministry. 

What are we doing in the ministry of the Master? Are we sitting on the sidelines watching others get the blessing of serving? Are we on the frontlines, doing as the Savior leads?

LET IT GO

What do we need to lay down so we can follow Jesus wholeheartedly?

What Will You do With Jesus?

N.T.#152  "What Will You do With Jesus?"

March 21, 2025 

Luke 6-Part 2

LET IT GLOW

Have you seen anyone with a withered hand? My brother had one after his stroke. It was difficult for him to use it, so he wore a glove to hide it. I can imagine how difficult it must be for one in that condition. Today, we meet one that was suffering with a withered hand. Let's find out what Jesus did.

It happened on another Sabbath. Luke doesn't say if it was the next week or later on. Jesus was teaching in the synagogue and saw a man with a withered right hand. The scribes and Pharisees were there watching Jesus to see if He would heal on the sabbath day.

Watched means note insidiously or scrupulously.

 Why? That they might find an accusation against Him. (verse 6)

An accusation, in the Greek language, means a criminal charge; a complaint.

What did Jesus do then?

• Jesus knew their thoughts. He is God, after all.
• If Jesus healed the man with the deformed hand, they planned to accuse him of working on the  
•   Sabbath. 
• He told the man with the deformed hand to rise up, and come stand in front of everyone. The guy     obeyed Jesus.
• Jesus asked His critics if the law permitted good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil; is this a day to save a life or to destroy it?
• He looked around at them all, then told the man to hold out his hand. Again the man obeyed Jesus.
• The religious ones were filled with rage and discussed what to do with Jesus. (verses 6-11)

What will you do with Jesus? Is He your Savior and Lord? Or is Jesus just another good teacher to you? Is He Lord of heaven and earth to you? One day everyone will stand before Holy Jesus. Will you be told to depart from Him into hell or to enter into your rest in heaven?

LET IT GROW

Jesus deliberately challenged the religious leaders with their authority on what they considered their home turf. And His challenge came in the form of kindness. He deliberately brought the man to the front of the synagogue. He could have healed the man privately, made a gesture or with a mere thought. 

For Jesus, withholding a cure was just as cruel as deliberately causing harm. How should the religious ones reply to Jesus questions? 

Jesus didn't move a muscle, yet it was clear that He was responsible for the healing. 

Jesus accusers were in a dilemma. If they went to the Jewish ruling council to press charges, they would look like fools. Jesus had demonstrated to them beyond any shadow of doubt that He is Lord of the Sabbath. Jesus is Lord of heaven and earth. 

Maybe those guys hoped to recruit Jesus to join their ranks. That wasn't going to happen. The Lord firmly established His authority over everything they held dear. 

What can we do when we get into a situation or confrontation that challenges our faith? Pray for wisdom, for those involved, for God to give you a loving spirit, and submit to Jesus.