BELIEVE and RECEIVE!

The scripture readings for today are from Luke Chapters 7-8.  In these two chapters it speaks about  Jesus ministering to many different people with various problems.  We all know that it is the Lord who "saves" and it is the Lord who "heals."  But did you know He asks that we participate in being saved and receiving our healing?  Let me show you:

In Luke 7:50 Jesus says, "YOUR FAITH has saved you..." .   And in Luke 8:48 Jesus says, "YOUR FAITH has made you well...".

                                          We need to BELIEVE to RECEIVE!!!

We are a generation that must 1st "see it" in order to "believe it."  But the Lord asks us to "walk by FAITH, not by sight."  [II Corinthians 5:7]  We more often should be identified as "DOUBTERS" rather than "BELIEVERS."

I love to participate in sports--sports help me to relieve stress and feel mentally better.  It's a way to enjoy myself and relax.  Most professional athletes, who win regularly--prepare mentally to win by picturing themselves winning.  In other words they 1st "believe" they can win even before they play the game!

Well--FAITH is like that.  First we believe we can receive; then we walk-out that belief until it is manifested/achieved in our lives.

The woman that was "saved" went to Jesus 1st to worship him.  She knew her sins were forgiven because she believed.  Therefore she received forgiveness and salvation.

The woman who was "made well" received her healing because she believed that Jesus could, and would, heal her.

True faith is demonstrated in our actions.  True faith is:  "An outward manifestation of an inward work."  Our hearts are changed; therefore our lives are changed!

YOU CAN'T OUTGIVE GOD!

Our readings for today are Luke Chapters 5-6.  I'm going to center in on 5:1-10, which talks about Jesus ministering to the multitudes (by borrowing Simon's boat--using it as a platform to speak from) and for ministering one-on-one with Simon.  Note also that Jesus uses everyday objects when He ministered (the boat) and includes ordinary people (like Simon).

Here's a truth to hang onto:  The closer we draw to Christ, the more we'll learn from Him...the better we'll come to believe in Him...and the more we'll be personally BLESSED!

After Jesus finished speaking to the crowd, He wanted to reimburse Simon for the use of his boat...not with $$$, but in a much better way!  He told Simon to "launch out into the deep and let down your nets." 

Simon DOUBTED what Jesus had to say--why, every good fisherman knew that the best time to catch fish was at night....and this was midday!  However, he reluntantly launched his boat into the deep and threw over a net (even though Jesus said use several nets).  Like we often do--he didn't fully TRUST what Jesus had to say; nor did he fully OBEY!

Jesus was not only repaying (blessing) Simon for the use of his boat, but--more importantly--He was s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g Simon's FAITH.  In Mark 9:24, a man says, "I believe, but help me with my unbelief."  I'm sure Simon thought something similar when he was overwhelmed by the BIG CATCH.  For in vs.8 he fell down at Jesus' knees and confessed that he was a sinful man.

The word CATCH in Greek means:  "To capture alive."  Once Simon was a fisherman....now he was going to learn how to "catch" men.  What a promotion!!!

Simon's doubts about Jesus' fishing abilities progress to doubts about himself.  The 1st doubt is overcome by a miracle; the 2nd doubt is overcome by a promise (vs. 10).

Overcome your doubts and fears by trusting and obeying God's promises!

FRUIT worthy of REPENTENCE

9/16/11 - Luke Chptrs. 3 and 4 are very rich and meaty Scriptures, which give us much to chew on and digest.  But today I'd like us to taste just a tidbit of wisdom from 3:8, which tells us to "bear fruit worthy of repentence."  Repentance here means "an internal sorrow that results in turning away from bad behavior."  Godly character ("Fruit of the Spirit")  is spoken of in Galatians 5:22-23.  Before we come to know Christ, we bear some ungodly behavior, such as the 3 groups of people mentioned in Luke 3:10-14:  People, tax collectors, and soldiers.  They needed to change their life styles.  The people were too stingy, the tax collectors were too greedy, and the soldiers were too intimidating! 

Luke 3:9 tells us that if we do not bear good fruit, an ax will be laid to the root...it'll be cut down and thrown into the fire.  In other words, those who do not become branches that are attached to the Vine (come into the family of God and take on Christ's nature) will be cut down and discarded.  That's bad news!

However, in John 15:2 we are told that God (The Vinedresser) will prune some branches (parts of our nature--bad behavior) that are not bearing good fruit.  Learning to live a life in Christ is a "process"--it has seasons of growth.  Some of our old nature has to be pruned; some seasons produce more good fruit than other seasons; some seasons grow abundant amounts of fruit.

So having "fruit that is worthy of repentance" means choosing to repent from "dead works" by repenting and changing our life styles to please and glory the Lord.