Press in on Jesus to hear His word
"And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God…." –Luke 5:1
The people pressed upon Jesus to hear the word of God. Pressed upon is the Greek, epikeimai (eh pee’ kah my) which translates, urgent. The people had a burning desire to hear the word of God. They felt it was crucial, imperative, that they hear what God was saying, His now, present word.
In Acts 27:20 this word epikeimai is used as lay on, when the tempest at sea was so fierce, that the sailors despaired for their lives.
…and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.
The ship was shattered into pieces from the epikeimai of the storm, and only at God’s word, prophesied through Paul, were the people saved from sure death. Jesus using a parable in Luke 18:8 declares the importance in these last days of pressing into God’s word,
Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
Where does this faith come from? It comes from hearing God’s word (Romans 10:17), and is the only thing that pleases God (Hebrews 11:6), the only thing that all else is built on. What is faith? Simply believing that God is who He says He is and will do what He says that He will do, regardless of what the circumstances or people dictate!
Why press into the word? The word is the essence of God Himself, manifested as Jesus in the flesh. It is the truth. The job of the Holy Spirit, sent to us on earth when Jesus returned to heaven after His resurrection, is to teach us the word (John 14:26). We can trust His word which is TRUTH (John 1:1-3, 14 and 14:6). The scriptures declare of God in 1 Samuel 15:29 and Numbers 23:19,
God is not a man that he should lie neither the son of man, that he should repent: has he said, and shall he not do it? Or has he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
We must press in upon Jesus through the revelation of the Holy Spirit (John 14:26) to hear and know God’s word. Heaven and earth will pass away, but God’s word will live on for eternity (Mark 13:31). Therefore, if we expect to live on to eternity, His word is what will allow us to do so since all else will burn up (1 Corinthians 3:10-15).
Paul warned the people to study the word, (2 Timothy 2:15) hold fast to it, particularly in a day of evil and confusion as the enemy rages. The foundation of the word of God is Jesus Christ- His death, resurrection, life, all of it.
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. – 1 Corinthians 3:11
The word of God and the power of God revealed to us through His Holy Spirit, will keep us, guide us, protect us, comfort us, define us, help us, resurrect us, heal us, correct us, and so much more. It is TRUTH. Eternal truth. Facts change constantly. The truth remains the same. For instance, it might be a fact that you do not have enough money to pay your bills. But the TRUTH is that the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and all that dwell in it (Psalm 24:1), and as a believer, you are joint-heir with Christ (Romans 8:16-17) who owns ALL. Therefore what you have need of is there for the asking and taking. The truth of the words of the Prodigal’s Father to the second son in Luke 15:31 should be our own song,
Son, you are ever with me, and all that I have is yours.
I change it to the first person and declare it back to God every day,
Lord, I am always with You. And all that You have is mine!
The fact is that your body may be wracked with cancer. The TRUTH is healing is the children’s bread (Matthew 15:26, Mark 7:27). The Truth is healing was provided for us by the cruel stripes Jesus endured as He went to the cross for us (Isaiah 53:5). The fact is you may be consumed with an addictive behavior. The truth is as you begin to press in, believe, confess and live for Jesus, His power and love will change you so addiction drops off of you like a broken chain (Matthew 22:29).
Imagine, it pleased God to bruise Jesus for us (Isaiah 53:10); putting Jesus to grief for us; making Jesus’ soul an offering for our sin! His Beloved bruised, so we too could become His beloved!
It’s time. Time for a SHIFT in the way we do Christianity. Believing is not enough. The devils believe and tremble but can never please God (James 3: 19). Sadly our unbelief will never negate the truths of God’s word. As Paul so clearly and forcefully states in Romans 3:3-4,
For what if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar…
We need to move beyond mere belief and began to acknowledge, study, act upon and live by God’s word. As Christians, studying the word should be our main staple, not a shot of medicine we take every now and then. Our bible should be out and studied every day. What more do we expect Him to do for us than what He has already done? God wants us to press in for, and live by His powerful truths. Truths that will change our life, our DNA, forever. We need to know His word in an intimate, bold way (Hebrews 4:12-16).
Let’s let down our nets for a big catch in this season, no matter the circumstances; because we serve a great, big, loving, good Father, who delights in giving His children good things, and who is greater in us (1 John 4:4) and for us (Romans 8:31-39) than any and all giants put together! Press into Jesus for His life changing word.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
But without faith, it is impossible to please God. He who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. Hebrews 11:6
So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. –Romans 10:17
In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. –John 1: 1
The word became flesh and dwelt among us…. John 1:14
Tune in next time for the 2nd part of Let Down Your Nets!