The Authority of His Word

Luke 4-5 contains several snippets of the power Jesus' Word carries in various ways... I want to list them here:

His Word astonishes the listeners:
Luke 4:31–32 (ESV) And he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the Sabbath, 32 and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority.

His Word cast out demons:

Luke 4:35 (ESV) 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.

His Word removes sickness:

Luke 4:39 (ESV) And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them.

His Word silences demons:

Luke 4:41 (ESV) 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.

His Word attracted great and eager crowds who pressed in on Him to hear:

Luke 5:1 (ESV) On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret,

His Word produced great success miraculously for those who listened and obeyed:

Luke 5:4 (ESV) And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”

His Word healed leprosy:

Luke 5:13 (ESV) And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him.

His Word forgives sins:

Luke 5:20 (ESV) And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”

His Word changed the course of lives:

Luke 5:27 (ESV) After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.”

I think His Word speaks for itself.  But what is Luke intending to how us?  This is a proclamation movement.  The same Word Jesus spoke, we speak.  The same message Jesus gave us, we give to others.  The Church must preach boldly and convincingly.  This was the purpose of Luke's account... ("that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught." Luke 1:4 (ESV))

We must never lose our confidence in God's Word taught and preached.  The regneration of the heart in the power of the Spirit is birthed through the preaching of God's Word.

PRAYER:

Father, help me GROW in confidence in your word.  Help me ignore the messages of the enemy and help me to limit the number of voices I lend my hear to.  I ask for precision in my attention. Speak to me, Lord, your Servant is Listening.