Good morning people who hide God’s Word in your heart and recall it to your mind.

Luke 4:16-17 NIV He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

Jesus was brought up memorising Scripture. This is something that I am personally so thankful that I was brought up doing too.

When Jesus was older, we read that when He was handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah, He unrolled it and found the place where it was written (and we will look at what was written tomorrow).

Jesus didn’t have google. Jesus had memorisation. And here’s my question to us all today:

If you were handed a Bible, could you find the place where particular things are written?

Now, I don’t want to step over into legalism or bring any condemnation. There are many things that I could not turn to, and I’m sure the same is true for you. We do have google – or the Bible App – and these can greatly help us in studying God’s Word and finding where things are in the Bible. Praise God for this technology when it is used this way.

But I do want to go back to the principle of knowing God’s Word. You know I am passionate about this, and I am so unashamedly. Jesus overcame the devil by knowing what was written. Jesus found the place He needed to read from in the scroll of Isaiah because He knew what was written.

Do you know what is written?

Could you find the place where it is written?

Good morning people who don’t forsake gathering with other believers.

Luke 4:16 NIV He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read.

Jesus had a custom of going into the synagogue on the Sabbath.

A custom is something that you regularly do. It is often something that you have made a commitment to do. And customs, like we see in this Scripture, can be very good things.

A Synagogue was the meeting place or the assembling of people, specifically Jewish people. But, by analogy, it is also referring to a Christian church.

Unfortunately, for many today, the custom of meeting together with the assembly of God’s people has been replaced with the thought of “convenience”. Where it used to be, “We go to church on Sunday; that’s what we do”, now, sadly for some, it has become, “We’ll see if we have anything on and make a decision then.”

The truth is, many important things that used to be non-negotiable have not only become negotiable, but even easily excused. Lesser things have become more important than clear biblical imperatives and commands.

This is not the example of Jesus.

Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Let’s commit to good customs and good habits this year. Meeting with other believers weekly should be top of your list.

Good morning people who never stray from what the Holy Spirit is doing.

Luke 4:14-15 NIV Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.

Jesus’ ministry was marked by teaching and preaching.

Matthew 4:23 NIV Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.

Teaching is about instructing. Preaching is about proclaiming. Yes, they can both be interchangeable, but they are different, and both are needed in the church today.

Sometimes preaching is seen as more Spirit-led, and teaching is seen as more Word-based.

Sometimes preaching is seen as more pentecostal or charismatic, and teaching is seen as more traditional or conservative.

Both of these views are non-biblical and not helpful. In fact, these incorrect views widen the gap between brothers and sisters who have the same heavenly Father! It’s time to do away with dividing lines that are based in false ways of thinking.

Jesus always was the Word and He was always full of the Spirit and led by the Spirit.

Jesus literally was the Word made flesh (John 1:14).

He constantly read from the Scriptures and then taught from them what the Father wanted people to see. Jesus kept in step with the Spirit as He preached on the kingdom of God and as He continually pointed people to the Father.

This is the model for each and every one of us. This is the pattern for every church and every denomination.

Watch episode #11 – ‘Bible Meditation Is Our Foundation For Teaching’

Good morning people who continually point people to the One who is working through you.

Luke 4:14-15 NIV Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.

Jesus was released into ministry in the power of the Spirit.

The result of Jesus returning in the power of the Spirit was that He was released into His ministry. Jesus started to teach from this moment on.

Our preaching and teaching today must be in the power of the Holy Spirit. We cannot afford to preach or teach any other way.

Jesus became famous and He stayed on mission.

It is inevitable that some people who minister for the Lord become famous; news about them spreads. We cannot stop this from happening. But we can determine the influence of this on our hearts and the direction of this in our lives.

Jesus stayed on mission with what His Father was doing.

Jesus was praised when He preached.

Jesus was praised because He was the Son of God. And yet Scripture tells us that Jesus continually pointed people to His Father, and He even gave credit to His Father for what He was able to do (John 5:30, John 6:38, John 12:49, John 4:34, John 8:29).

Jesus exemplifies how we should minister: In God and for God.

My prayer is that God is always glorified whenever someone teaches or preaches. I pray that all we do truly remains about God and His kingdom purposes. May everything be done in God and for God, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Good morning people who see the evidence of what God is doing in your life.

Luke 4:14 NIV Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.

I love this! Let’s look at the context and the result.

Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit from a prolonged time of intense temptation from the devil.

The devil never wins in the life of a Spirit-led and Father-submitted child of God! Never! Oh, we must see this today. It is not possible for the enemy to win when we keep in step with the Holy Spirit. It may be intense, it may be long, it may be hard, but victory is always guaranteed if we remain in God!

Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit from a prolonged time of intense temptation from the devil.

I’ve stated the above statement twice because in the one statement we see both the context and the result. In fact, we can’t separate them, and perhaps, this is part of our struggle in life.

Sometimes we miss what God is doing because we are focused on what the enemy is doing.

Yes, the devil tempted Jesus. But Jesus overcame Him with His NO to the devil and His YES to God. The result was that He emerged from this time of testing, not limping or lame, but in the power of the Spirit! Hallelujah!

And this too can be the testimony of your life and mine! We can emerge from any and all seasons stronger in the Lord than when we entered the season. This is the power of the Holy Spirit in us!

Clearly stated: You’ve got this because God’s got you!