THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 4:31-37
“They were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority.” (Luke 4:32)
Jesus is anointed by the Spirit of God.
It is the Spirit of God that adds weight and authority to what we say.
My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power. (1 Corinthians 2:4-5)
The spirit of Christmas is not just being nice, or kind, or generous.
It is the power of God to be good news for people, to bring help and hope and healing.
The spirit of Christmas is the Spirit of Jesus setting the captives free.
This story about the demon-possessed man reminds me of another powerful Christmas story.
When Charles Dickens wrote ‘A Christmas Carol’, he was looking for a way to address the issue of poverty.
This short Christmas story ended up having a huge impact on the world.
Like Ebenezer Scrooge, it set many people in bondage to selfish greed free.
I recently read the story, and it definitely speaks with ‘authority’.
It is not just about niceness or generosity, it is about a captive being set free.
A slave of greed becoming a servant of good news, and hope and healing coming into the world.
This is the kind of impact God wants to have on us this Christmas again.
Not just to make us nice for a few weeks, but to change our hearts, our lives, and our world.
May the Spirit impact us through Jesus this Christmas.
And may the Spirit impact the people around us with the authority and power of His love.
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, I need Your Spirit too, to help others. Impact me and those around me with the authority of Your Spirit, Your love and truth.
Jesus follower
trying to find His way
Observations/Application
‘ . . . and the news spread throughout the surrounding region.’
It is Christmas once again, but then every day should be a Christmas Day. See how the world still comes to a stop – at least one day a year. Stores are closed. Wars cease. Gifts are given. Sharing. Caring. Peace on earth. The whole earth knows that Christ is King!
Then . . .
Then tomorrow we go back to our selfish ways. Wars. Give me. Careless. Godless.. And the Good News – well that was news yesterday. Yesteryear.
Help me to be amazed every day Lord and see Your presence – where You are working in this Your world through Your people. God at work also today through us.
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.
Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.