October 18th 2015
Jesus Said, "Return Home And Tell How Much God Has Done For You!"
Luke 16:31 (NIV)
"He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’"
Jesus seems to be telling the religious leaders of that time that they need to believe what the Old Testament teaches in order to be able to believe the New Testament, which was being lived at that time through Jesus’ ministry. In this time, we need to understand the OT first, before we can actually understand the NT! If the fall of Man did not occur, then Jesus coming to this earth is meaningless. Many professing Christians today seem to believe they are sinless, and therefore, they do not really need a Savior. They believe they are basically good people, and therefore, they should go to heaven when they die.
Jesus also said that without knowledge of the OT, and believing it, we cannot grasp what Jesus taught when He walked this earth and performed many miracles. If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say? (John 5:46-47) We must believe the OT first, to be able to grasp the NT! If we do not believe that mankind was created in a special creation act, then how do we really believe that we have an immortal soul, which was created in the image and likeness of God?
Jesus performed many miracles when He walked this earth and conducted His ministry. One of those miracles was to bring back to life a girl who died. Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. "Stop wailing," Jesus said. "She is not dead but asleep." They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But he took her by the hand and said, "My child, get up!" Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. (Luke 8:52-55) Jesus knowing what constitutes life caused her life giving spirit to return to her body, “Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up.” Without an immortal spirit we are not alive, this is not true of animals, so please never believe that members of mankind are animals!
When Jesus healed people He often remarked that He healed them through or because of their faith. Then he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace." (Luke 8:48) Once when Jesus returned to his home town, there people did not believe, or have faith, that He was who He said He was. Because of this lack of faith, he could not help them! Jesus said to them, "Only in his home town, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor." He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he was amazed at their lack of faith. Then Jesus went round teaching from village to village. (Mark 6:4-6) It is interesting to me what Jesus said about how a lack of faith holds back healing. “He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.”
Jesus also related fear to be connected to a lack of faith. When He and His disciples were in a boat and a storm raged, they became frightened, and He noted their lack of faith as a factor in their fear. He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!" (Mark 4:40-41) Here these men were in a boat with Jesus the Christ, and they feared drowning, as though Jesus could not save them from this bad weather! It makes me wonder about my faith, and do I really believe that Jesus is always with me! What about you do you have faith that Jesus is always with you? Does the Holy Spirit really indwell you, as followers of Jesus the Christ?
Jesus cast out evil spirits from a man, and then told him to go home, instead of following Jesus. The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, "Return home and tell how much God has done for you." So the man went away and told all over the town how much Jesus had done for him. (Luke 8:38-39) Has Jesus done anything for you? Maybe He did not cast out evil spirits from you, but surely you believe he has done some wonderful things in your life. If you are following His lead, then do you dare to tell someone what good things Jesus has done in your life?
When Jesus stilled the raging storm, when His disciples were in the boat with Him, He questioned their faith in who He was. Then they raised the question about who Jesus is! "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!" Once when Jesus was walking with His disciples He asked, who do other people say I am? After they responded with who some people said they thought who He was, then He asked them "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" (Matthew 16:15) This question is still being asked of every member of mankind. It is a very important question for anyone who is serious about being a disciple of Jesus Christ!
Some of the disciples started to leave when Jesus told them about His impending death, and resurrection and it prompted Him to ask His Apostles, if they too were planning on leaving His ministry. "You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God." (John 6:67-69) As Peter states, there is no other Savior to go to, Jesus is the only Savior of the world. As Peter puts it, “You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."
The words of eternal life are only held by Jesus; only He can have your eternal spirit return and make you live again. Jesus left us this wonderful message. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. (John 14:2-3)
Jesus is coming back for you, if you have professed a belief and have faith that He is who He said He is! Have faith He is coming back for you! Now that is Good News!”
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
Luke 16:31 (NIV)
"He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’"
Jesus seems to be telling the religious leaders of that time that they need to believe what the Old Testament teaches in order to be able to believe the New Testament, which was being lived at that time through Jesus’ ministry. In this time, we need to understand the OT first, before we can actually understand the NT! If the fall of Man did not occur, then Jesus coming to this earth is meaningless. Many professing Christians today seem to believe they are sinless, and therefore, they do not really need a Savior. They believe they are basically good people, and therefore, they should go to heaven when they die.
Jesus also said that without knowledge of the OT, and believing it, we cannot grasp what Jesus taught when He walked this earth and performed many miracles. If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say? (John 5:46-47) We must believe the OT first, to be able to grasp the NT! If we do not believe that mankind was created in a special creation act, then how do we really believe that we have an immortal soul, which was created in the image and likeness of God?
Jesus performed many miracles when He walked this earth and conducted His ministry. One of those miracles was to bring back to life a girl who died. Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. "Stop wailing," Jesus said. "She is not dead but asleep." They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But he took her by the hand and said, "My child, get up!" Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. (Luke 8:52-55) Jesus knowing what constitutes life caused her life giving spirit to return to her body, “Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up.” Without an immortal spirit we are not alive, this is not true of animals, so please never believe that members of mankind are animals!
When Jesus healed people He often remarked that He healed them through or because of their faith. Then he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace." (Luke 8:48) Once when Jesus returned to his home town, there people did not believe, or have faith, that He was who He said He was. Because of this lack of faith, he could not help them! Jesus said to them, "Only in his home town, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor." He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he was amazed at their lack of faith. Then Jesus went round teaching from village to village. (Mark 6:4-6) It is interesting to me what Jesus said about how a lack of faith holds back healing. “He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.”
Jesus also related fear to be connected to a lack of faith. When He and His disciples were in a boat and a storm raged, they became frightened, and He noted their lack of faith as a factor in their fear. He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!" (Mark 4:40-41) Here these men were in a boat with Jesus the Christ, and they feared drowning, as though Jesus could not save them from this bad weather! It makes me wonder about my faith, and do I really believe that Jesus is always with me! What about you do you have faith that Jesus is always with you? Does the Holy Spirit really indwell you, as followers of Jesus the Christ?
Jesus cast out evil spirits from a man, and then told him to go home, instead of following Jesus. The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, "Return home and tell how much God has done for you." So the man went away and told all over the town how much Jesus had done for him. (Luke 8:38-39) Has Jesus done anything for you? Maybe He did not cast out evil spirits from you, but surely you believe he has done some wonderful things in your life. If you are following His lead, then do you dare to tell someone what good things Jesus has done in your life?
When Jesus stilled the raging storm, when His disciples were in the boat with Him, He questioned their faith in who He was. Then they raised the question about who Jesus is! "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!" Once when Jesus was walking with His disciples He asked, who do other people say I am? After they responded with who some people said they thought who He was, then He asked them "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" (Matthew 16:15) This question is still being asked of every member of mankind. It is a very important question for anyone who is serious about being a disciple of Jesus Christ!
Some of the disciples started to leave when Jesus told them about His impending death, and resurrection and it prompted Him to ask His Apostles, if they too were planning on leaving His ministry. "You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God." (John 6:67-69) As Peter states, there is no other Savior to go to, Jesus is the only Savior of the world. As Peter puts it, “You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."
The words of eternal life are only held by Jesus; only He can have your eternal spirit return and make you live again. Jesus left us this wonderful message. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. (John 14:2-3)
Jesus is coming back for you, if you have professed a belief and have faith that He is who He said He is! Have faith He is coming back for you! Now that is Good News!”
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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