Luke 21

As Jesus described the events of the end times, He mentioned “Great earthquakes, famines and pestilences (fatal, epidemic diseases) in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.” His instruction … “Stand firm and you will win life.”

Paul said, “Therefore, put on the complete armor of God, so that you will be able to [successfully] resist and stand your ground in the evil day [of danger], and having done everything [that the crisis demands], to stand firm [in your place, fully prepared, immovable, victorious]. Eph. 6:13 Amplified Bible

To review:

1. Put on the armor of God
2. Resist (thoughts that contradict God’s instructions)
3. Stand your ground … don’t run from anything and keep your family close
4. Do everything you can that the crisis demands
5. Hold your place, prepared, immovable,  victorious

You probably won’t read these instructions in the newspaper or hear them on TV.

Luke 19,20

The religious leaders of the day tried to trick Jesus concerning authority. They challenged Him on where He got His Authority/ He immediately clarified that Heavenly and human were different.

We have all been given Authority and a commission to spread the Gospel. The power comes as we spend time with the Father in prayer. When we spend the time, it’s like having a tank full of gas so we can step on it and go a long ways.

Luke 17,18

Ten lepers cried out to Jesus as He was near them. “Have mercy on us,” was their plea. He instructed them, “Go and present yourselves to the priest” (for ceremonial cleansing). Their healing occured “As they went.”

Christianity is active obedience to Christ’s instructions.

Faith without works is dead.

Jesus NEVER told His disciples to hunker down in a monastery and hum all day. He told them to get up, hit the streets, and do the work of His Kingdom. He told them to COMPEL them to come in. (It’s hard to compel sitting on the sofa)

Luke 15,16

Jesus told of a rich man and a beggar who both lost their lives and went on. The rich man wanted God to send a warning to his brothers of the agony and torment he experienced after death. His plea was futile. God reminded him of the messages available through the law and prophets.

Now, we have the gospel to share with people. The penalty for rejecting Christ is unbearable, yet people still turn from Christ. We must warn them. We must care that they will likewise suffer the same penalty that the rich man Lazarus did. We must warn them while they yet live.

Luke 14

Jesus encouraged voluntary humility … choosing a position lower than others when given the choice. He demonstrated humility by the way He lived. He always put the interests and well-being of others ahead of Himself. He advocated serving rather than being served. He proposed giving rather than receiving. He taught dying to self rather than pampering self.

When you are looking out for yourself, and everybody else does likewise, it becomes a vicious dogfight to live. When you are looking out for everyone else, and ALL OF THEM are looking out for you, the odds are greater that you will be advantaged.

Christianity works.

Luke 12,13

When I was  growing up I would slouch in my shoulders and my dad would straighten me up. He wanted me to pay attention to my posture.

Jesus saw a woman who was bent over, crippled for 18 years by a spirit of affliction. He called to her, told her that the spirit was commanded to be gone, and he touched her. She was made straight. She could now be upright.

John the Baptist prophesied that the crooked places would be made straight.

Straight is a powerful word and concept. The Lord wants us to be straight.

Luke 11

Jesus said a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand.

Disunity in the locker room of a sports team causes superior athletes to lose games. Division in a political party robs the ballot box of the numbers it needs to win. A divided mind can render a leader ineffective when the pressure is on.

The Psalmist said “Unite my heart to fear Thy name.” [Ps. 86:11]

Hence, prayer can unite the heart. “Ask and you shall receive!”

Luke 10

Jesus made it clear that God can reveal or hide his knowledge from people. It makes sense to pray that God would reveal and open the eyes of those we’re concerned about. Obviously, we do our part in sharing the gospel but God can open their eyes and their hearts to see and believe.

I am going to focus on this prayer strategy for people I consider at risk of missing heaven. I do the asking and God does the revealing.

Luke 9

After a high School basketball game I attended the other night, a disgruntled student from the losing team began hollering profanities at the victors. He concluded by shouting, “We’re rich and you’re poor,” no doubt trying to prove a form of superiority other than basketball. It was sad. He just thought he was richer.

Jesus said “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?”

We are wise to make sure those we love are in the “Ark” of safety, the Salvation that only comes through the blood of Jesus. That’s TRUE profit.

Luke 8

We find in Luke’s writings insight into the nature and function of controlling spirits. Mary Magdalene had seven spirits cast out of her. The man living in tombs was full of many, many evil spirits, also called demons. Jesus cast them out with his word and authority. They wanted a body to live in so they were sent into a herd of pigs nearby.

We may or may not be aware of the extent of demon possession all around us. An easy place to find them is in the media and from Hollywood. Much music that is evil and promiscuous in nature is demon inspired. Holy matrimony and godly procreation are targets of the devil. True worship is another one of his prime targets. Hence, we find a lot of his activity invested in distorting and destroying these things that are near to God’s heart.