Luke 10 - 4.16.24
SCRIPTURE: Luke 10:1-3 "After this, the Lord appointed 70 others, and He sent them ahead of Him in pairs to every town and place where He Himself was about to go. He told them: "The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest. Now go: I'm sending you out like lambs among wolves."
OBSERVATION: This gospel is a letter from Luke to Theophilus, who was likely a Roman Gentile. Jesus knew His time was short before His crucifixion, and that there were many villages that had not yet heard His message, so He appointed 70 of His disciples to go on ahead of Him to prepare the places where He was about to go. He told them to PRAY TO THE LORD OF THE HARVEST TO SEND OUT LABORERS INTO HIS HARVEST.
The need for prayer before is vitally important, and it demonstrates that we are open and receptive to God's guidance, wisdom, and direction. He told His disciples to GO as LAMBS AMONG WOLVES.
When Jesus sends us to bear witness to Him in the world, He doesn't send us out as dominant and strong, but as weak and defenseless in ourselves. But... since ALL power and authority has been given to Jesus, that makes us fully equipped as His followers as we go out and solely rely on His Spirit to guide and protect us in HIS power, wisdom, and strength. They were told to go out and tell the people that the kingdom of God had come near them.
To those who have been born-again, Jesus is within us, and among us, and wherever we go, He is there as we walk in His kingdom authority! We have been given authority in Jesus' name to do the same things the apostles were able to do: they were given the power to witness and preach boldly, they healed the sick, they casted out demons, they were given the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy! As the seventy went out, guess how they returned? WITH JOY!
APPLICATION: Reaching people with Christ's message of hope and redemption is a responsibility that is not restricted to the apostles. ALL FOLLOWERS of Christ are to be involved in carrying out the Great Commission. (Matthew 28:19,20).
PRAYER: I pray the Lord of the Harvest will send out workers into His Harvest, including me! I pray that I will rely on the Holy Spirit to work IN AND THROUGH ME as I carry out the Great Commission. And I thank God for filling me with joy as I go, AND as I return!
- Robin Orefice
Luke 9 - 4.15.24
Scripture
Luke 9:20 NLT
”Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Peter replied, “You are the Messiah sent from God!”
Observation
Jesus is hanging out with his disciples and he asks them, “Who do people say I am?” His disciples respond by saying that people think that he is John the Baptist or Elijah, or one of the other prophets that have been raised from the dead. To which Jesus responds by asking them all a very important question: “But who do you say I am?”
Application
Who is Jesus to us?
It’s the million dollar question that everyone will have to answer when it’s all said and done. Muslims say he is a good prophet. Mormons believe Jesus to be a spirit child of the Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that Jesus was created by Jehovah (God,) as the archangel Michael before the physical world existed. And atheists believe Jesus to be a good teacher and influencer. But who is Jesus to a Christian? It is a question we should ALL be ready to answer with boldness and confidence…especially when defending our faith!
”Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.“-1 Peter 3:15
As Christians, we believe that Jesus is the Son of God. We believe that He is God in the flesh. We believe that Jesus came out of the comforts of Heaven, taught us how to live godly lives, performed many miracles, was the only one to live a sinless life, and yet He died a sinners death. We believe that through His bloodshed on the cross, He paid the debt of our sins (which is eternal death). We believe that Jesus rose again 3 days later, and through His resurrection, all those who put their faith and trust in Him will also conquer and overcome death. We believe Jesus left His Holy Spirit with us when He ascended into Heaven, where He now sits at the right hand of God the Father, interceding on our behalf.
Now the Bible tells us about a day of judgment that is coming. That is when we will all be held accountable for our actions. It doesn’t matter how good a person we think we are. It doesn’t matter how many times we went to church. It doesn’t matter how much money we gave to the poor. It doesn’t even matter how many old women we helped cross the street. All that matters is what we did with the name of Jesus, and who we believed Him to be. Now I don’t know about you, but I’m with Peter here. I believe that Jesus is the Messiah sent from God.
”And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.”“ -Matthew 12:36-37
”For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.” -Acts 17:31
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
I pray that people everywhere will come to know Jesus as the Name Above All Names. I pray that hearts will be softened. I pray for people to hear Your voice and trust in Your Words. May they come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior in their lives. In Your Holy and precious name I pray, Amen. 🙏🏽
-Moses Gaddi
Luke 8 - 4.12.2024
Scripture - Pick one verse that stood out to you.
Luke 8:24-25
The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”
Observation - What about this verse stands out to you?
It is so strange that the physical storms I have experienced, are so similar to the emotional and mental storms that I have survived. What could water, wind and lightning possibly have in common with the stresses of my life. Why is it that when I read these words, I just knew exactly what the disciples were going through, despite never having been in a boat during a storm fearing I would drown. Why is it that when Jesus asks his disciples, “Where is your faith?”, I felt as if Jesus was speaking directly to me.
And why, after all these years of walking in Christ, am I not constantly reminding myself: The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid… (Psalm 118:6)
Application - How will you apply this to your life?
As I have walked with the Lord, certain storms have ceased to phase me. Hooray for progress. But sometimes all it takes is an ominous forecast, and I am transported to a rocking boat where the wind, rain, and chance of drowning are all too real. It’s moments like these that humble me and remind me that I still have a ways to go – that my faith has a capacity for growth. I will not be afraid today, because God is with me.
Prayer - Write out a prayer.
Lord, may my application, Your Words of affirmation be also my prayer this morning. I want to grow in my faith. I want to grow in you. I will not be afraid today, because You are with me. Thank you my Savior. Thank you, my Rock. In the name of Jesus do I pray, amen.
-kenneth lee