Todays Scripture: Luke 4:31-44

Page 860 in our guest Bibles.

If you could have three wishes...

image: JD Hancock

The kingdom of self is HEAVILY DEFENDED territory.

~ Eugene Peterson
Christian Author & Pastor

Life isnt about my kingdom but Gods kingdom.

The Kingdom Authority and Power of Jesus The Gospel of Luke 4:31-44 1 2 Cosmic Implications Personal Implications

Luke 4:31

And he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee....

Luke 4:31-32

And he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the Sabbath, and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority [not as the teachers of the law (Mark 1:22) ].

Luke 4:33

And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon...

Luke 4:33-34

...and he cried out with a loud voice, Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are-the Holy One of God....

The reason THE SON OF GOD appeared was

TO DESTROY
the works of THE DEVIL.

~ 1 John 3:8

Luke 4:35

But Jesus rebuked him, saying, Be silent and come out of him! And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm....

Luke 4:36

And they were all amazed and said to one another, What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out...!

Luke 4:37-38

And reports about him went out into every place in the surrounding region. And he arose and left the synagogue and entered Simons house. Now Simons mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, and they appealed to him

Luke 4:38-39

on her behalf. And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them....

Luke 4:40

Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them....

Luke 4:41

And demons also came out of many, crying, You are the Son of God! But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ....

Luke 4:42

And when it was day, he departed and went to a desolate place [ and there he prayed (Mark 1:35) ]. And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them....

Luke 4:43

...but he said to them, I must preach the good news of the kingdom to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose. And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

It is possible to try to co-opt Jesus for any agenda under the sun all the while totally ignoring the very agenda Jesus embodied.

Application

1 2 3

Let go Receive Seek

1
LET GO of your small kingdom ambitions

image: diverevan

REPENT, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

~ Matthew 3:2

The time is fullled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; REPENT and BELIEVE the gospel.
~ Mark 1:15

The kingdom of God is simply the kind rule of God.

Jesus doesnt oer to help us build our small CLAUSTROPHOBIC KINGDOMS, but to graciously give us an ETERNAL KINGDOM.

2
RECEIVE Gods Kingdom as a gift.

image: Shareen M

Fear not, little ock, for it is your Fathers GOOD PLEASURE to give you the kingdom.
~ Luke 12:32

3
SEEK first the interests of Gods Kingdom

image: kayugee

Do not be anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or What shall we wear? For the Gentiles seek after these things, and your heavenly Father KNOWS that you need them all.

~ Matthew 6:31-33

But SEEK FIRST the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

~ Matthew 6:31-33

1 Let go

Receive

Seek

Life isnt about my kingdom but Gods kingdom.

JD Hancock: http://www.flickr.com/photos/83346641@N00/7486431222/ Diverevan: http://www.flickr.com/photos/55019964@N00/572886815/ Shareen M: http://www.flickr.com/photos/14862087@N07/3062251754/ Kayugee: http://www.flickr.com/photos/37831703@N00/4655277889/