31/03/2020 - WASTE OF POWER

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And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.”. Luke 4:27

In Nazareth, Jesus read Isaiah’s writings on His mission and said to those present: Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your ears (Luke 4:21). From that moment on, everyone could believe there would be a change in their lives. Likewise, when people hear the gospel message and believe in Christ, the process of change begins in their lives. Therefore, it is good not to waste the Lord’s statements.

The people marveled at Jesus’ words and reasoned for themselves about them. Human reasoning leads to dangerous decisions. Some asked, Is not this the carpenter’s son? And is not his mother called Mary, and his brethren, James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Judas? And aren’t all your sisters among us? Where did all this come from? And they were offended in him (Mt 13.55-57). See, Joseph was not the father of Jesus, but God. Mary’s other children were her half brothers.

Then the Master said that there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the three-year and six-month drought brought famine and other consequences. He added that Elijah was not sent to any of them, but only to that of Sarepta of Sidon (Luke 4:26). Of course God was powerful to feed all the others if they said the right prayer. Failure to ask in faith causes many believers to live poorly, ill and in so much trouble.

The Savior also mentioned the lepers of Israel in the days of Elisha, noting that among them only Naaman the Syrian had been healed (Luke 4:27). Christ showed how far these people were from God’s will and bound by a dead and insensitive religion. For centuries there were no divine operations in Israel, because there was no preaching of the faith. In our churches, when it comes to anything but faith, we rarely see great works.

All of the synagogue was filled with wrath and drove Jesus out of the city, leading Him to a cliff where the city was located to precipitate Him from there (Luke 4:28,29). Imagine the Son of God being killed ahead of time by the hands of those unaware of the heavenly Kingdom! As they carried Him, Christ used the power of God and came out of their midst. When they reached the mouth of the cliff, they gaped, for the Savior was no longer in their hands.

The same power used by the Lord is at our disposal to break the devil’s plans about us, which, by the way, are bad. Never conform to the lack of authority seen everywhere. Try to consecrate yourself to the Most High and obey Him. The Lord heals, delivers, and saves those who give ear to Him. There is so much to do, it’s up to us!

By enabling us to fight the enemy, God has qualified us to break the evil traps. You can and should believe in the Word of the Most High and sanctify yourself, even without having a church position. God anoints and uses anyone who wants to walk with Him, submitting to His will. He loves him!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares