In Part 1 we discussed Vs 1, how the people pressed upon Jesus to hear Him speak, to hear the word of God.
"And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God..." –Luke 5:3
Why press into the word? The word is the essence of God Himself (John 1:1, 14), manifested as Jesus in the flesh (John 14:6). It is truth. The word of God and the power of God revealed to us through His Holy Spirit (John 14:26), which will keep us, guide us, protect us, comfort us, define us, help us, resurrect us, heal us, correct us, and so much more (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Why? Because it is TRUTH.
Partner with Jesus to do His work of touching the people
You know, we can no longer take the word of God or the Person of Jesus and the Holy Spirit for granted. We can no longer take them lightly. Our lives and that of our loved ones depend on our getting back to the word of God. Getting back to the truth. Reading and obeying God’s word. Satan did not shed a tear, or loose one hair on his head for any human being. His plan is to pour out as much hate as he could upon those whom God loves. Because he hates God. A loving parent can always be touched and moved to pain when their children are hurt. Satan hates those who God loves. People. He does not deserve to be worshipped. He must not be allowed to fool, and lie to, and manipulate the people God created, in order to lead them to hell here on earth and in the end of their lives. Jesus deserves the worship of people. He gave His all for the world. Because He loves.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes In Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. –John 3:16
Jesus gave His precious life. His blood. His love. For the entire world. It is imperative that our loved ones, our friends, our neighbors, the people, understand that God so loved them, that to pay the price for our sin, to make a way back to a Holy God who can never stand or accept sin, He sacrificed Himself. He made it possible that, not only do we have a home in heaven when we die, but now; right here on this sometimes crummy earth, we can live a life full of joy and peace even when there is craziness and discontent around us.
The thief came not but to kill, steal and destroy; but I am come that they might have life and have it more abundantly. –John 10:10
But how will they know? How will those around us know the love of God that dared to go so far as dying for us. Living for us. Sending His Spirit to live in and with us. Giving His word for us to follow and live by? He uses us. His people.
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. –2 Corinthians 5:20
Go ye therefore and teach all nations….–Matthew 28:19
…he who believes in me the that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do…. –John 14:13
For I was hungry and you gave me meat; I was thirsty and you gave me drink I was a stranger and you took me in. I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you visited me; I was in prison and you came to me. Matthew 25:35-36
He made a way for them to know Him. Us. We are the ones He uses. Partnering with His Holy Spirit. We, those called by His name, are to go and tell them. Go bring them into the kingdom. We were not saved for heaven- though that is a beautiful end product. We were saved to be His hands and feet. His voice. His ambassadors on earth empowered by heaven. Empowered to do even greater things than He did when He was on the earth. We allow Him to use our boat so He can have a platform from which to teach the people, in order to transform their lives.
And he entered into one of the ships…and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. –Luke 5:3
What is your “boat”? What in your hand? What can you allow Jesus to use so He can transform the hearts of the people around you? His disciples let Him use their boat. Maybe for you it’s your ability to boldly speak truth without fear. Or maybe you can sing. Or bake a good lasagna or brownie. Or write letters. Or pray and intercede. Or sew hats for premature babies. Or feed the homeless. Or teach. Or visit the sick and widows and shut-ins.
Jesus is calling each of us today to partner with Him. Time is of the essence. We are running out of it. When I was a little girl growing up in Guyana, South America, Grandma would go to the market each Saturday. What Joy! We knew that when she got back there would be a delicious treat for each of us. I remember trying to occupy the time she was gone, all the while keeping my eyes out the windows for her to appear. Because our country is under water, out houses were on stilts to ensure safety during flood season. So looking out the window from high above the road, I could see all the way far down the road, watching for her appearance with my sweet treat! Sometimes it would seem that she would not come. But each minute that she delayed meant that she was one minute closer to coming.
Wrap your mind around this idea, “each minute that she delayed meant that she was one minute closer to coming.” So is it with Jesus. For years I have heard of His soon coming. But each year He delays means that He is one year, one day, one hour, one minute closer to coming again. Every sign of His coming as laid out in the Bible has happened, down to the last one- that the gospel will go to the very ends of the earth (Matthew 24:14).
The time of His coming is upon us. Time for our families, our friends, our neighbors, to come into the Ark. When the preaching of Noah was over and the ark filled, God shut the door (Genesis 7:16, Luke 17:26). Once the door of time is shut, no one (but God Himself) can reopen it.
Let Jesus use your boat. Partner with Him so His souls He bled and died for can hear the gospel and come into the ark of safety. Let’s let down our nets and follow Jesus, so others can be blessed by our obedience. As we approach the end of the age, there will be a great pouring into the kingdom. Be part of the ones who partner with Christ for this great end time move of God, so we can see souls saved and our own lives transformed.