LUKE CHAPTER 9 (9 OF 24)
Scripture: Luke 9:1-58, Luke 9:60-62, Luke 9
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Luke Chapter 9 (9 of 24)
Series: Luke
Harley Howard
Luke 9:1-62
1 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
Now it is clear in this passage that Jesus chose a select group of disciples from all of His disciples or followers, to follow Him. These are called the 12 disciples. They are always identified closely with Jesus and even the people who saw Jesus identified these as His 12 disciples. Jesus called all these disciples and they were called to be with Him. Discipleship is not a matter of one choosing to follow Jesus as much as it is a matter of Jesus calling you and me to follow Him. We are to respond to the call of Jesus. He is not responding to us. There is no human initiative to want to be a true disciple of Jesus. There may be plenty of empty words, but to truly follow Him in the way He commands is never going to be done by human initiative alone. Jesus calls, and the true disciple responds in obedience to that call. Anything short of that divine call is nothing but empty, meaningless words. Notice that Jesus not only did the calling of these men, but also Jesus empowered these men. Verse 1 states “And gave them power”. The power that was needed to perform the miracles that the disciples did had to come from a source outside of themselves. Jesus sent them forth with the ability of healing various diseases and also to cast out demons; just like He did. These men had no ability whatsoever to accomplish the work of God and of Christ without His divine power.
Would to God that the church today would once again understand and function in this simple truth. The church is absolutely and completely powerless to do anything for God without His divine enablement. In saying these things, I am not implying that the same power that these disciples possessed are operative today because it is obvious that today we do not have Apostles, as these men were also named. ...
Series: Luke
Harley Howard
Luke 9:1-62
1 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
Now it is clear in this passage that Jesus chose a select group of disciples from all of His disciples or followers, to follow Him. These are called the 12 disciples. They are always identified closely with Jesus and even the people who saw Jesus identified these as His 12 disciples. Jesus called all these disciples and they were called to be with Him. Discipleship is not a matter of one choosing to follow Jesus as much as it is a matter of Jesus calling you and me to follow Him. We are to respond to the call of Jesus. He is not responding to us. There is no human initiative to want to be a true disciple of Jesus. There may be plenty of empty words, but to truly follow Him in the way He commands is never going to be done by human initiative alone. Jesus calls, and the true disciple responds in obedience to that call. Anything short of that divine call is nothing but empty, meaningless words. Notice that Jesus not only did the calling of these men, but also Jesus empowered these men. Verse 1 states “And gave them power”. The power that was needed to perform the miracles that the disciples did had to come from a source outside of themselves. Jesus sent them forth with the ability of healing various diseases and also to cast out demons; just like He did. These men had no ability whatsoever to accomplish the work of God and of Christ without His divine power.
Would to God that the church today would once again understand and function in this simple truth. The church is absolutely and completely powerless to do anything for God without His divine enablement. In saying these things, I am not implying that the same power that these disciples possessed are operative today because it is obvious that today we do not have Apostles, as these men were also named. ...
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