Ezek 3:4-7
Then He said to me: “Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with My words to them. 5 For you are not sent to a people of unfamiliar speech and of hard language, but to the house of Israel, 6 not to many people of unfamiliar speech and of hard language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely, had I sent you to them, they would have listened to you. NKJV
- God calls missionaries not just to foreign countries but to our very own neighborhoods. In fact vs 6 leaves us with the impression that it would have actually been easier to go to a people far from home. I have felt that it can be easier when you are far from home and removed from people who know you, but we need to reach out from home to those around us.
- Will you step up to the challenge to reach the people where you live? It is talking about the people at school, work, and your neighborhood and even your own relatives.
- Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8
Luke 7:7-8
7 I am not even worthy to come and meet you. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. 8 I know because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, `Go,’ and they go, or `Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, `Do this or that,’ they do it.” NLT
- If we could only grasp that concept. He understood the power of authority and his slave was healed without someone even laying hands on him…nor prayer. They just believed and asked Jesus to heal him.
- This scripture tells a lot about the possibilities of healing and about the authority of the angels and power in our words.
Luke 6:46
46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?
- We can not claim to be a Christian and a follower of Jesus if we will not obey His Word.
- A Hypocrite is someone who claims to be a Christian but their life does not show it.
- Many non Christians remain non Christians because they don’t see the point in changing when so many self professed “Christians” don’t live their life any differently. The challenge is to obey God or don’t say you’re a Christian, because otherwise you are giving Christianity a bad name.
- Jesus tells us in the next couple scriptures what happens when you make Him the Lord of your life and what happens if you are a faker.
Luke 6:40
40 A student is not greater than the teacher. But the student who works hard will become like the teacher. NLT
- I would love to be like Jesus. This scripture says the student has to work hard.
- What hard work could I do to become more like Jesus? Pray and read the Bible everyday, fast, listen to sermons, surround myself with strong Christian people that have good character, be obedient to God’s word, and learn to wait on God to hear His voice.
Luke 6:37 37 “Stop judging others, and you will not be judged. Stop criticizing others, or it will all come back on you. If you forgive others, you will be forgiven. NLT
- IF, that is a serious word when put with forgiveness…forgive others THEN you will be forgiven. That means we can not hold on to bitterness we plan to be forgiven ourselves.
Luke 6:35
35 “Love your enemies! Do good to them! Lend to them! And don’t be concerned that they might not repay. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to the unthankful and to those who are wicked. NLT
- WHAT? You want me to do WHAT?? But God they are jerks, they are mean, they are bad, they are evil…whatever excuse we may come up with God’s response remains the same: love your enemies and do good to them.
- Have you ever tried to help someone who is unthankful? It is SO frustrating! Well, I definitely want to be acting like a “child of the Most High” but being kind to someone who is unthankful is hard.
- God help me to be more like you and to have a good attitude about my enemies or even just toward those that I don’t like.
Mark 6:19-20
19 Herodias was enraged and wanted John killed in revenge, but without Herod’s approval she was powerless. 20 And Herod respected John, knowing that he was a good and holy man, so he kept him under his protection. NLT
- We need to be careful of who we hang around. Herod did not want to kill John but he kept Herodias around who did want to kill him and eventually she got her way.
Mark 5:36-39
36 But Jesus ignored their comments and said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just trust me.” 37 Then Jesus stopped the crowd and wouldn’t let anyone go with him except Peter and James and John. 38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw the commotion and the weeping and wailing. 39 He went inside and spoke to the people. “Why all this weeping and commotion?” he asked. “The child isn’t dead; she is only asleep.” NLT
- Jesus spoke with authority and with no doubt even when others brought a bad report. He did not tolerate negative talk. By saying she is only asleep He was speaking as though she had already been healed before she was.
Luke 6:32
32 “Do you think you deserve credit merely for loving those who love you? Even the sinners do that! NLT
- We are called to be different. Anyone can love someone who is nice to them…
Luke 6:30
30 Give what you have to anyone who asks you for it; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. NLT
- Now that is a new concept. Give your stuff away and don’t try to get it back. That would require being self-less instead of selfish…that is a hard character trait to find these days.
- That means we need to not get too attached to our stuff.
- God help me to be excited about you and what you want to do. I don’t want to love my stuff so much that I have a hard time letting it all go.
