PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Luke 9:1-9
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Who, then, is this I hear such things about?” (Luke 9:9)
Herod thought he had silenced John the Baptist, but John was working for God.
You cannot silence God or stop God’s purpose, and that purpose is in Jesus!
Jesus is on a mission for God, and death will not stop him.
Jesus’ death on the cross did not end his mission, it caused it to expand.
Jesus’ followers are trained to carry it on, from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth.
History is the continuous expansion of this mission through Jesus’s followers.
We continue to spread his kingdom message of grace, restoration and hope.
Helping, healing, serving, sharing, caring, trusting, persevering.
The question to ask about the church is not ‘who are these people?’
But who is their leader, who is this about whom we hear such things?
Jesus is God’s unstoppable agent of good news, impacting the world through his followers.
“I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18)
Satan can persecute Jesus followers… behead them, crucify them, cut out their tongues.
But Satan cannot silence or stop them, because Jesus cannot be stopped!
PRAYER
Lord, give me this boldness. When fear or circumstances threaten to discourage or defeat me, remind me of who You are too – the unstoppable one!
“Who, then, is this I hear such things about?” – I thinking – what if people today would say that about us as Jesus’ followers? In Jesus name we do make a difference – we live under a different master. Yet, for the most part – do our neighbours experience us differently. I sure hope so! Herod noticed something was happening – and he was sweating it because of his killing of John the Baptist. Yet I want to be genuine in my relationship with my neighbours – reflecting the values that I’ve learned and are led to follow as I seek to follow Jesus more nearly. I am not to hide my ‘light’ under a bushel – No!
Lord thank you for your commission and instruction. Help us share the good news, help me be quick to show love and not stubborn and pushy when I am not welcomed.
He enables. Christ empowers His disciples with gifts and talents needed for kingdom service. They were dependent on His power and not their own. They were on a mission p to serve their Master and I need to do the same.
He’s able, He’s able,
I know He’s able,
I know my Lord is able
To carry me through.
(Repeat)
He healed the broken-hearted
And set the captive free,
He made the lame to walk again
And caused the blind to see.
He’s able, He’s able,
I know He’s able,
I know my Lord is able
To carry me through.