ttob10

The Testimony of Believers

Lesson Ten: by turtle

Life is short and some say live it to the fullest. Try new things, and do not be afraid to listen to new stuff. Yet even so there is
always a risk involved in doing so. What you hear might not be so and what you do not hear might be truth. What you might try
might be harmful to you and what you try might be beneficial down the road or at the present time. Green beans are good for
you but that spinach is beneficial too, but those narcotics have no value but to bring you down, yet pain medication used
correctly might be beneficial to recovery, or activity through painful days. The word of God is like spinach and green beans. It is
beneficial both present and in the future. However not all receive it that way. Some people look at green beans and say yuk it
green can not eat that. Others see the benefits of God’s word and digest it at least for a season or on that veggie diet they try.
Yet dieting is often a passing fancy. Some people treat the word of God like a passing fancy. They hear receive and when things
get complex the word seems to loose meaning to their way of thinking and they try and do things in themselves. Only to find
their way is short lived.

The story of the sower is about the way people perceive and view the word of God. It is liken to the way a sower spreads seeds
and how it falls to either produce or produce for a season. Yet it even fizzles out even before it can take growth. The fact is
some understood these parables much the same way, they heard it and it took root in their heart and mind and other heard and
like the story but it had no room in the heart to be planted for growth. The word of God though beneficial to all hearers is not
always received that way. Or even does it get planted in the heart that way.

Luke 8:1-18
(1) And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the
kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,
(2) And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven
devils,
(3) And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their
substance.
(4) And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:
(5) A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of
the air devoured it.
(6) And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.
(7) And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.
(8) And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried,
He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
(9) And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?
(10) And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they
might not see, and hearing they might not understand.
(11) Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
(12) Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they
should believe and be saved.
(13) They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while
believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
(14) And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches
and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
(15) But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth
fruit with patience.
(16) No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick,
that they which enter in may see the light.
(17) For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.
(18) Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be
taken even that which he seemeth to have.

The disciples had no understanding of the parable and sought to understand it. When we do not understand the Word of God it is
best to begin by prayer, yet nothing wrong with asking others opinions, yet remember that what you hear from others might not
be God’s view. Part of growing in the word of God is seeking truth about it. The disciples heard the story and desire to have
knowledge to understand what Jesus said.

Jesus goes a bit further with His answer when visitors came to see Him.

Luke 8:19-21
(19) Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press.
(20) And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee.
(21) And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.

Fact is we can take in the word of God and yet it has no value unless the word of God manifest itself in our lives. Christ desires
us to not be just hearers or receivers of the word, but for it to bring forth fruit so others might know Him. If you receive the
word and you among thorns and rocks the word of God might grow for a little while, but when difficulty comes it will fizzle out.
It has to be planted in fertile soil, people willing to receive and produce it back so others might see the benefits of the word of
God. Again the parable is explained as a candle. No one hides what bring forth light. Those trying to hide the light is not of God.
Something to think about. The devil wants to cover up what God says. What to steal as much truth away as he can.

What makes Jesus equal to the Father, is the power God gave Him. The ability to rebuke His creation and the ability to speak
and what is spoken happens. The disciples were witnesses tot he power given to Jesus by God, for even the sea and the winds
obeyed Him.

Luke 8:22-25
(22) Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto
the other side of the lake. And they launched forth.
(23) But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and
were in jeopardy.
(24) And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the
raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.
(25) And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man
is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.

Christ spoke while on earth with his own Authority, Authority given to Him, because of who He was by God. God’s word has
power. Whether in flesh or whether in the spoke word. Even with the authority Christ had he never forced it on anyone. He
could of opened all hearts and minds to what he spoke, yet he took time to teach people, allowing the word to bring forth fruit. A
good example is the demoniac man. Let’s read His story.

Luke 8:26-39
(26) And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.
(27) And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no
clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.
(28) When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus,
thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.
(29) (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept
bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)
(30) And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.
(31) And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.
(32) And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to
enter into them. And he suffered them.
(33) Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the
lake, and were choked.
(34) When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country.
(35) Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed,
sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
(36) They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed.
(37) Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were
taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.
(38) Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away,
saying,
(39) Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published
throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.

Several people are mentioned in the above story, the man that evil spirits came out of and the men who raised pigs, who lost
their herd. Some might say the men that went and told the city that Jesus had sent their pigs over a hill side, had destroyed their
property. Others might say that demons destroyed the property that Jesus just gave them permission. Christ had the authority to
cast out demons and authority to allow Satan to go where he wanted to go. Christ could control even evil spirits but He did not
except to cast them out. He did not stop the demons but said go head and go in those swine. He never told them to run the swine
off a cliff. That was act done by demons. The men went and told the town in which they were from of what happened and upon
hearing the town came out and demanded Jesus to leave. The man he healed wanted to go with Jesus, but Jesus pointed to God
and said go and tell what God has done for you. With that word spread about Jesus like wildfire. It was published throughout the
country.

We have a job to tell our story of what Christ did for us. To tell how He redeemed us and how His word is ministering in our
lives. We can not hide the things God does for us. However often we might be ashamed of the things we have done, but never
ashamed of the wonderful working power of God. The next two stories is about faith. One man’s faith almost falling apart and
Christ brings hope, and another person’s suffering but had enough faith to reach out and grab a hold of it to gain healing, though
she felt unworthy to receive it. The woman with the issue of blood felt unworthy to ask Jesus for a miracle but a miracle was
given. Given though she felt she had no right to trouble God. And yet God gave the miracle with the touch of Christ garment.
Another feeling worthy to ask God for miracle to save His daughter life, only to loose his daughter and to give up on a miracle,
only to receive a miracle from God.

Luke 8:40-56
(40) And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him.
(41) And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and
besought him that he would come into his house:
(42) For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him.
(43) And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed
of any,
(44) Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.
(45) And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng
thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
(46) And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.
(47) And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him
before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.
(48) And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.
(49) While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble
not the Master.
(50) But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.
(51) And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the
mother of the maiden.
(52) And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.
(53) And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.
(54) And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.
(55) And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.
(56) And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.

Faith is interesting though it be planted by the word of God, it is also must be demonstrated in action. Even when our faith fails,
God’s word still brings forth deliverance. Jesus had not walked the road toward Jairus house for to not bring forth a miracle. Yet
all hope was gone when they thought she was dead, but Jesus said oh she just asleep. Fact is simple Jesus does not walk a
distance to come back empty handed. The other day I walked around the hospital to get to out patient surgery. I did not go to the
hospital not to come back without the person I was with not having surgery. It something that had to take place.

Each believer having to take a chance on faith to receive from God, and each bring forth fruit of the great things God had done
in their life. Each of us are accountable for sharing our faith. Sharing our testimony about Jesus.