Luke

[IKTCA]

When Zacharias saw an angel, he was troubled and fear fell upon him. (Luke 1:12)

For a while in the past, and even now to a lesser extent, I wanted to experience a trembling fear. I mean the kind of fear that the Israelites had at Mount Sinai, that made even Moses tremble, and that a mortal experiences as he nears the glory of God.

I thought I would be more obedient once I experienced this fear. And God allowed me to experience the fear of him. But the fear didn’t last long. The memory is still in me, and trace of fear, but not the same fear.

I became to love the Lord Jesus. But unless the love is refreshed daily, it, too, disappears. The stirring of my soul doesn’t even last a day. It needs re-stirring by the Holy Spirit in the morning and in the evening again.

Nothing in me lasts long. But God’s love and the Lord’s grace endure. I am sustained not by what’s already in me, but by what comes afresh from God.

Father,
My life is short, and the goodness that you put in me lasts only a while. Unless you feed my body and sustain my soul everyday, I shall perish. Therefore, I give thanks and honor to you, for your Son calls me friend. Let me not betray the Son again, as I did when I didn’t know him. Amen.

 

[IKTCA]

I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. (Luke 13:32)

Friends,
It comes even to my slow-learning mind that casting out demons and healing the sick were of high importance to Jesus, important enough to list them for 2 days' work until the cross/resurrection. Also, his instruction to the 12 as he dispatched them was to cast out demons, cure the sick, proclaim gospel, which was an extension of Jesus' work.

But around me, casting out demons and curing the sick have taken a back seat, and ministry has become all about proclaiming the good news. My brothers and sisters suffer from/die of sickness of body/mind, but the church continues to preach faith without healing them.

Have we become words only? I ask the same question to myself. When was the last time I laid hands on a sick and the sick walked praising the Lord? When was the last time I cast out a demon in the name of Jesus?

What shall I do? What shall we do?

Rupert

 

[IKTCA]

There was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity 18 years, and was bent over....(Luke 13:11)

What is spirit of infirmity? Can someone explain to me?

 

[FoundInGrace]

hi iktca,
Interesting question, presume the spirit of infirmity is just when someone is sick in some way, not well.
as to how one would distinguish whether it needed to be cast out or not would need discernment as God would decide to give it.
Perhaps a person may be sick in some way but their relationship to God intact. But where a person's relationship with God is in some way hindered by infirmity perhaps that is when it is a spirit blinding a person to the truth of God.
I'm not entirely sure, thats just some random thoughts, what do you think it is?

 

[C.A.B.L]

Iktca,

I may be wrong, but an infirmity is any type of sickness or disease that hinders the regular mobility or ability of the body to perform simple tasks. In this case, the latter part of the verse says "she was bent over" it could have been arthritis in her back, or perhaps something that made it impossible for her to walk upright.

 

[IKTCA]

Sister FIG:
I understand little about unclean spirits. I have always thought that unclean spirits deceive mind, and rob soundness of mind from people.

But I know a few godly believers of sound mind (as far as I can see) but with physical infirmity. It can't be the work of an unclean spirit - as I understand unclean spirit. When I read the passage, I wondered if the spirit of infirmity was associated with such infirmities. The spirit of infirmity affects the body, but fails to affect the sound mind. In the passage, the woman was not without a sound mind. Apparently, you were thinking in the same way. But I cannot prove it (or disprove) experimentally. If I present this view to the believers and suggest that we remove the infirmity spirit in the name of Jesus, they will say I am out of my mind.

Does anyone know? Will he teach us?

Rupert

Brother Matt:
We were typing simultanesouly. I didn't see your reply. Yes, I think so, too. I was wondering if "spirit of infirmity" is the condition or actually a spirit?

 

[IKTCA]

And the apostles said to the Lord, "increase our faith."
So the Lord said, "If you have faith as a mustard seed,
you can say this mulberry tree,
'Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,'
and it would obey you." (Luke 17:5-6)

Why did Jesus say it? What does his answer have to do with the apostles' request to increase their faith? I have no understanding at all. Was he reprimanding them of little faith? Was he making them seek faith with greater desire? Or was he telling them that he wouldn't increase their faith, and that they would have to earn it (through long suffering, purification of their hearts, giving up their possessions, carrying the cross daily, etc)

I am asking the Lord to increase my faith. I really need to understand the answer, because it is his answer to my request. Thank you.

Rupert

 

[C.A.B.L]

Reply to above post.

Well, IMHO I don't think he was telling them they would have to earn it. God gives us salvation and everything we need to walk with Him by grace. On the other hand, there are certain things that we "earn" in a sense. One of them is crowns, I don't know too much about them, but I know that we earn them. As to the dsciples request. We know from scripture that before Jesus ascended into Heaven, that the disciples had very little faith. So this sounds like a logical request. The Bible says that God has given everyone a measure of faith. My question is: was Jesus in a way telling them that they already had the faith they needed to perform the tasks they had been chosen for?

 

[IKTCA]

“Master, your mina has earned 10 minas.”
“Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little,
have authority over 10 cities.”

“Master, your mina has earned 5 minas.”
“You also be over 5 cities.” (Luke 19:16-19)

When I sign a contract, I am warned of hidden catches. I have to read tiny prints. But the contract with the Lord is open and clearly spelled out: If I am faithful in a small matter, I will be given a city. I don’t have to struggle to earn a big city.

The Lord is full of trust. He is ready to trust. As the big city of Nineveh was given to Jonah, the Lord will give me a city. Only if I complete my small assignment.

This is good news. This brings much joy that I have been seeking for a while. I don’t know how many people will be in my-city-to-be. Their souls will be given over to me so that I can pray for them, love them, and cherish them.

Lord,
Help me fulfill my assignment in joy and much expectation for a city. Amen.