ttob7

The Testimony of Believers

Lesson Seven: by Christina Farris (turtle)

One of the problems in modern day churches is lack of the word. They desire the feel of the Spirit through worship and a lack
of word during a revival. They desire the touch of the Spirit of God not knowing God. And desire healing and prophesy without
understanding of it. Some may argue what right do you have to speak out. I am in America and that is a freedom of speech.
Freedom to say I witness the move of God were people understood it not, but accept as a move of God, yet it lays way to the
devil if one is not aware of who God is. Preaching is still as much important as it was in Christ day. In many Gospels you hear
about the parables and about the miracles but the word preaching seems less important but it still there. Yet in Luke it seems
very pronounced that people came to hear the preaching. Miracles do bring people about to hear the gospel, but what it does
not do is speak the gospel of Christ. It speaks of God’s power but not repentance though sometimes they go hand and hand.
Seeing the need for repentance after healing in the physical sense can come in the spiritual sense. However in Luke you get a
sense that people came more then just for miracles but for the preaching.

Luke 5:1 KJV
(1) And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,

The people gather around Jesus so much that they pressed Him to the edge of the lake. They desire to hear the word of God.
Do you desire to hear the word of God or just see miracles performed. Jesus seen two ships and decide to use them as a place
to preach from as well as a place to rest off His feet. He climbed in the boat and told the fishermen to pull away from the shore.

Luke 5:2-3 KJV
(2) And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.
(3) And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land.
And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.

The next thing Jesus did was to tell the fisherman name Simon Peter to cast his net in the water, this would pay for the use of
the ship. Might not consider it has a form of payment but it was. For Simon cast his net in though he had not gained anything
all night and landed up calling his friends in other boats to help.

Luke 5:4-7 KJV
(4) Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
(5) And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word
I will let down the net.
(6) And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
(7) And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they
came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.

Must remember the healing of Simon Peter’s mother in law was in the previous chapter so belief in Jesus word was already
established in Simon Peter’s heart. Peter’s response was more like if you say I will do. One of the first steps of faith is doing
what God says do. The first step is usually repentance, but there maybe prior acts to repentance to help belief. For example
Gideon put out a test in the book of Judges to see if it was God speaking to him or not. Testing God in this manner is not a sin.
It is actually wise decision. You want to know that what God is speaking to your heart is God and not man. Simon Peter told
Jesus to depart from him because he was a sinful man. Simon Peter after seeing all those fish he caught and that there was
enough for his friends as well knew that Jesus was the Lord. And Jesus told Peter not to fear he would catch men for now on.

Luke 5:8-11 KJV
(8) When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
(9) For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:
(10) And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon,
Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
(11) And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

Peter and his friends James and John son’s of Zebedee came ashore and left all and follow Jesus. Did not think of that great
catch or the loss of income, but followed Jesus. Everyone that follows Jesus has to decide between what they have and
following Jesus. It does not mean you can work, or earn money to keep your family alive. What it is about is you can not
follow Jesus and put other things before Jesus. It saying I follow you Lord despite any other responsibility that may come.
Peter had obligation to tend to those fish in that boat but Jesus said come follow Me. And the first of the twelve disciples
followed Jesus. Are you following Jesus or are you following money.

People began to look for Jesus for miracles after this and a man with leprosy said if you will only heal me. And Jesus
commanded he do according to the Jewish law and show himself to the priest. With this fame spread. Why because when God
is moving no minister can be silenced.

Luke 5:12-15 KJV
(12) And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and
besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
(13) And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.
(14) And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses
commanded, for a testimony unto them.
(15) But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by
him of their infirmities.

The gossip that spread caused people to seek Jesus. Because of this seeking Jesus went off to talk to His Heavenly Father in
the wilderness, only to be greeted in the next scene by all those religious leaders.

Luke 5:16-17 KJV
(16) And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.
(17) And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by,
which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal
them.

Jesus healed the Pharisees and doctors that waited to see Him. Yet while there a man came to be healed, and could not get to
Jesus so the man’s four griends lowered him through the ceiling to Jesus. Before the leaders he told the man his sins were
forgiven, only to hear the hearts of these leaders say what right does this man have to forgive sin. And with that Jesus said to
know I have the power to forgive sin I tell this man to get up and walk.

Luke 5:18-26 KJV
(18) And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to
lay him before him.
(19) And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the
housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.
(20) And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.
(21) And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive
sins, but God alone?
(22) But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?
(23) Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?
(24) But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I
say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.
(25) And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying
God.
(26) And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.

This man on the cot was unclean, the doctors and Pharisees of the law were clean spiritually in their eyes, yet when the man
was lowered and then Jesus said your sins are forgiven it was like you let this sinner in our presence. Do you not know we are
holy people unto God. We do not talk to those that are sick, yet the power of God in that place and the miracle that took place
calmed all that witnessed it for the man went out glorifying God for his healing. Minister should not be afraid to get around the
sick if called by God to go forth to them. Jesus allowed all kinds of people to near him despite their diseases.

As we continue with different believers and their reaction to Jesus, it often amazing that Matthew a tax collector did not
continue collecting taxes when Jesus called him but went immediate with him, much like Peter, James and John. However
Jesus went to Matthew house to eat with his friends the publicans(other taxes collectors) and others. And because Jesus of this
the Pharisees began to wonder about Jesus and why he ate with sinners. Yet Jesus response was he came to call not the
righteous to repentance but the sinners.

Luke 5:27-32 KJV
(27) And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto
him, Follow me.
(28) And he left all, rose up, and followed him.
(29) And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat
down with them.
(30) But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and
sinners?
(31) And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.
(32) I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

The curiosity of the Pharisees and scribes got the better of them because they did not just ask why Jesus ate with sinners, but
continue to try and trap Jesus into why his disciples did not fast and pray like John’s or the Pharisees did. Apparently they were
concern with piety of the disciples, yet not realizing who Christ was and His purpose for being here on earth. Christ response
was that a day was coming that the bridegroom would no longer be with them. When the bridegroom was no longer with them
that is when they would fast and pray. Christ never said we would not have to fast or pray.

Luke 5:33-35 KJV
(33) And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the
Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?
(34) And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?
(35) But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.

Jesus did not stop there but continued with a parable to explain more to the Pharisees and scribes. And the parable of the
wineskin is lost, but not to those who still use wineskins today. Yet most can understand that patching a garment with new
piece of cloth my not be good idea. The fact is Jesus was bringing a new covenant to the people. And those that knew the law
or traditions of God would not bend easily to the new covenant but would tend to follow the old ways or traditions of the law.
Yet those not knowing the law in time would eventually do those things according to the law including fasting, but it would take
time. It would not be over night change. It would come with the age and maturity of faith.

Luke 5:36-39 KJV
(36) And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the
new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old.
(37) And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall
perish.
(38) But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.
(39) No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.

Believers come in all forms, those with the traditions like the Catholic Episcopalian and Lutheran church, who have deep rooted
traditions that explain their faith, as well as those more liberal denomination and independent groups that form without all the
rigidness of traditional church. A new church starting out can not be expected to be as format with schedules and plans, but
meeting the needs of those that come to worship and meet. Jesus was meeting the needs of those that were willing to listen to
His message, by speaking at every opportune time. Revivals of new people often begin with meeting at different times and
weeks upon weeks of revival. It is almost like a feeding frenzy that eventually dies down. And the meat is only ready for the
next meal time. The newest wearing off and traditions slowly beginning to take shape with new structures. Jesus was meeting
the needs of the people.