HAPPENING WORDS
Opening Prayer
Lord God, from the beginning your words have spoken life. I long for your words that draw me closer to you, teach me how to follow you, and give me joy.
Read LUKE 4:31-44
Jesus Drives Out an Impure Spirit
31 Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath he taught the people. 32 They were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority.
33 In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an impure spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, 34 “Go away! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
35 “Be quiet!” Jesus said sternly. “Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him.
36 All the people were amazed and said to each other, “What words these are! With authority and power he gives orders to impure spirits and they come out!” 37 And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area.
Jesus Heals Many
38 Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. 39 So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them.
40 At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. 41 Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah.
42 At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. 43 But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” 44 And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
‘Break open your words, let the light shine out, let ordinary people see the meaning’ (Psalm 119:130, The Message).Caesar Augustus’ call for a census wasn’t just an announcement; it was a proclamation that took effect and affected lives across the Roman Empire (Luke 2:1–3). Jesus’ proclamation of good news effected the inauguration of God’s kingdom (Luke 4:18,19). In the stories that follow, Luke shows how this proclamation of ‘the year of the Lord’s favor’ is put into effect as Jesus brings healing and freedom from disease, demonic forces, and sin (vs 35,38–41; 5:20). These signs demonstrate that God’s kingdom is breaking through the darkness, bringing light and life to people.
When God said, ‘Let there be light,’ there was light (Genesis 1:3). The angel’s declaration, ‘I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people’ (Luke 2:10) affirmed that God was delivering on his promise to bring deliverance. We speak today of ‘happen- ing places,’ where interesting or exciting action takes place. Jesus’ words are ‘happening words’—authority-backed, power-packed words that don’t merely announce but accomplish that which they promise. No wonder the onlookers asked, ‘What’s going on here? Someone whose words make things happen?’ (v 36, The Message).
Apply
God declares, ‘…so is my word that goes out from my mouth: it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it’ (Isaiah 55:11). Are you cooperating with God’s purposes by sharing his life-giving Word?
Closing prayer
Jesus, I acknowledge my inadequacies, but my heart’s desire is to share the Good News with others. Please give me opportunity and your life-giving words to say that make a difference for eternity.
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