Bible Study: Be Humble & Shout

Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today is Thursday October 28, 2010 and we are continuing our reading through the Bible. Today's message comes from the Book of Luke, chapters 17-18. In these chapters we will read about, forgiveness, faith, Jesus healing lepers, an unprofitable servant, parables about praying, and Jesus healing a blind man, all Scripture quoted comes from the King James Version. If you would like to read today's chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: imfollowingjesus.com/bible-october-28

Today's Message: Be Humble & Shout
As Christians it can get pretty lonely at times, family and friends mock and reject you, the world looks at you as though you have some kind of disease, and it seems you face more persecution than you ever did in the world. The truth is, we are not alone, we have the one person with us that never leaves us and that is Jesus Christ. Praise God! The amazing thing is that through all the trials God is directing and guiding you and creating a good work in you. “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” - Philippians 1:6.

Why do we face so much persecution? Our faith. We turn away from the corruption of the world, turn to Jesus and put our faith in and trust in someone that is invisible to them. Jesus said to His disciples, “It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.”- Luke 17:1-4.

The word offend means to irritate, annoy, or anger, Jesus explains that people are going to be offended by you, it is something that is impossible to avoid, but we do not need to be offended by them because God will take care of them for us, He says, “Just forgive them and I will handle it.” “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” - Romans 12:19-21.

Do you ever feel like people are ungrateful for the things that you do for them? For instance, you are the best employee, but your boss is constantly on you as if you were the worst. Jesus explains this in a rather odd way, “But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.”- Luke 17:7-10.

Why would Jesus command them to say that we are unprofitable servants? Jesus was showing the disciples their need of deep humility, no matter how perfectly we may do our job, it deserves no recognition, it is our duty. Humbling ourselves and pressing forward does bring rewards, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” - I Peter 5:6,7.

While it may look hopeless, nothing is impossible with God and as long as we hold on tight to our Lord all will come to pass and we will not only be stronger, but even more blessed than we already are. In fact, we can ask God for anything and He will give it to us. The Bible says, “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” - I John 5:14,15.

How do we ask God for things? We pray, it is the only way we can ask for things and the only way He will give them to us. Jesus spoke this parable about praying, “And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” - Luke 18:9-14.

Remember, exalted means to be praised and honored, those who are humble will be exalted. Then we can ask God of anything and it will get His attention. We are to never stop praying, praying keeps us faithful and strengthens us to handle those that persecute us. If you think that God can not hear you, first of all, make sure you know Jesus personally, if you do not know Jesus, it is simply unprofitable prayer. Secondly, sometimes you have to shout, when everything around you seems chaotic and loud, shout. “O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.” - Psalm 47:1.

A blind man got Jesus' attention by shouting, “And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging: And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me. And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.” - Luke 18:35-43.

Jesus saves and gives mercy to all who have faith in Him and when we are saved we can shout and cry our to Him and He will give us what we are asking for. Keep in mind that God will answer every prayer, but not always in the way we intend. We can not see what is in our future, but God already knows and is preparing us for it. “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” - I Corinthians 2:9. Praise God!

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

Are You 100% Sure That You Are Going to Heaven? godsprice.com
Visit The I'm Following Jesus Website imfollowingjesus.com
Want To Receive This Devotion in Your Email?
Subscribe By Sending A Blank Email With the Subject Subscribe to: devotions@imfollowingjesus.com