Jesus went to His hometown and taught and people were amazed and wondered where He got that wisdom and miraculous power.
We see see Here the teachings of Jesus were different from the teachings of scribes and Pharisees. They were full of wisdom and miraculous signs. People understood clearly what He meant. He explained the scriptures so simply that even the little children understood what He said and they were driven to respond positively. Here we learn that we must use simple words that all should understand not words that will 'go over the heads of the listeners'.
Since they saw Jesus grow up as little child, His family background, and everything from since He was young, they couldn't understand where He got the wisdom He had. They were offended and couldn't believe and for this reason Jesus couldn't perform many miracles there.
We see here that unbelief ties the hands of God. Are you one of them?
Is there something that God is willing to do for you but since you don't believe He can't do it for you?
In chapter 14, Herod heard about Jesus and thought that it was John the baptist who had been raised from the dead.
He arrested John for saying to him that it was unlawful for Him to take his brother's wife.
Are you like Herod, do you persecute and speak evil of others and tear down their reputation since they pointed out something wrong you did?
He had a party with his guests and promised his daughter to give whatever He desired since He danced well and pleased Him. She went and sought advice from her mother and they asked for the head of John and it were given them.
Here we learn that before you make a promise, consider the cost, and that not everyone can give you good advice. Be careful where you seek advice.
Jesus went on and people followed Him and He had compassion on them and healed them.
When you see people and their weaknesses, do you have a judgemental spirit or do you have compassion on them?
In the evening the disciples asked Jesus to tell the multitude to go away since they did not have food to eat but Jesus told them that they must feed them.
They said they only had five loaves and 2 fish and Jesus said the that that was enough. He took them and blessed them and broke them and gave His disciples who distributed to the multitude and they were all fed.
Even today Jesus looks at the people around us with compassion. Many are giving up, discouraged, bleeding and suffering. And He says to us His disciples, give them something to eat. We respond that we have no food except some few verses of the bible that we know, and Jesus says, bring it to me. He takes that word and breaks us and and give us that same word to us to bless others. If we are sensitive to the Holy Spirit, He will make us a blessing to people around us. The little thing that we know if we surrender it all to the Lord will be used by Him to lift up the discouraged, the weak, the needy and the suffering people around us.
When was the last time you encouraged someone? Everywhere the people we find most are those who discourage us.
Start from today, resign from the business of discouraging people and learn to encourage at least someone everyday.
A word of encouragement can do wonders.
Jesus insisted that His disciples get into the boat and cross the other side; and after dismissing the crowds, he went up the mountain up to pray alone.
I think the greatest challenge for us to pray is Jesus praying. If Jesus prayed, who are you not to pray? Are you stronger than Jesus? Are wiser that Jesus?
He prayed after feeding the multitudes. We should pray after God has blessed us and used us to bless others.
The disciples in the sea experienced waves. Remember that it was Jesus who insisted that that get into the boat, that means that they were not willing.
It's Just like God leading you to do something or go somewhere initially you never wanted to do. But the burden heavy in your heart you decide to obey God. When you obey God you experience winds. The winds does not mean you disobeyed God.
Just like the disciples experienced The miracle of the wilds being calmed, we will experience the same if the winds find us doing the will of God.
The first words He spoke to the disciples is be of good courage, do not be afraid.
God always encourages us and tells us not to fear the winds that come to us when we obey Him. If in the midst of the wind we experience you hear a voice that discourages you, you can be sure that is the voice of the enemy.
Every voice of discouragement is of the devil. God is called the God of all encouragement. 2Cor 1:3
Peter seeing Him asked Him to tell Him to come and Peter walked on water but when He looked at the waves, he begun to sink.
In the same way when our eyes are looking steadfastly on Jesus, we will walk above the storms of life without sinking in discouragement, but the moment we look at the storms, we will get discouraged.
Like Peter if you start sinking in discouragement and temptation to give up, cry out to God to help you and immediately you find deliverance. Don't seek silently, cry out to God, even in your heart He hears when you are unable to speak audibly.
When Jesus stilled the storm, all bowed down and worship; in the same way, when Jesus calms the storms in our lives, all who see will bow and worship God. That is why God allows people to see the storms that come in our lives
Heb 12:1-3 tells us that we need to run the race FIXING our eyes on Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. If we want to finish the race without getting discouraged or giving up, we need to give careful thoughts on all grievous opposition He experienced from sinful men.
Therefore, wherever you feel discouraged and feeling like giving up, be sure that at that moment you are not looking in Jesus. Isaiah 26:3 days that God keeps at perfect peace all whose mind is FIXED on Him. Stop looking at the circumstances of life, look at Jesus and you will be encouraged and your heart will be at peace.
You are blessed to be a blessing.
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@blessed mambo
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