Lesson to Lesson

Lesson to Lesson

Each lesson we pass leads to another lesson. God's bible school never ends until full maturity in Christ has been gained. Even though one has a degree in most careers today because things are always advancing additional training is continuously needed.

Jesus in Luke 4:14 returned from his 40 day intensive bible school training in the wilderness powerful in the spirit. As we see in vs 15 it gained Him much acclaim. As we learn from each lesson in life we have more to offer others and therefore greater influence follows.

Not everyone though is learning from the lessons in life and therefore are held back, repeating the same tests over and over again, these are those who can become jealous and try to pull back those who are advancing. It is usually those closest to us that seem to have the most difficult time accepting our growth, for it brings too reality where they are themselves, in which they would rather not admit, so they respond negatively.

This is what Jesus faced when returning to where He grew up. Those who know our past have the hardest time accepting who we have become. The attitude is usually who do you think you are?
Well Jesus laid it out in verse 18, it is God's Spirit that is on Him to preach the good news, bringing pardon to sinners, opening blind eyes, delivering the oppressed, He is the fulfillment of this prophecy from the book of Isaiah. It is not about who we are it is about who God is. It is not about what we are able to do it is about what His Spirit does through our lives. People who know us too well will often be limited because their ears are dull, their eyes are blind, for they can only see us and not the Spirit of God working through us. It says in verse 22 that they were all surprised in what they heard but they still questioned it (had there doubts) because He seemed so different from who they knew.

In verse 23 it says no prophet is ever welcomed in their hometown. Most of us will be sent away from where we grew up because people just have a hard time believing the changes evident in our life because of our past. It should be that the changes cause others to change as they see the true evidence of God's power, but man's stubbornness gets the best of them. I do have a few that I can say have changed from my hometown because of God's work in my life, but only a few, little compared to the impact I have had elsewhere.

In verse 28-30 we see that they did not just reject Jesus they tried to kill Him. Can we handle the test of rejection, where our own family and friends reject us? For many, this is the test that they fail. They can sacrifice much but not losing the ones they have developed lifelong relationships with. Jesus said we must forsake all and follow Him. Our ministry success will be determined by how far we are willing to follow Him. What or whom are we willing to forsake for the cause of the Gospel? That is why the bible says to count the cost. The price of following Jesus is our lives.

I remember people close to me telling me that it is okay that I have found religion but just keep it to myself? Meaning if I want to stay in relationship with them I better not preach to them. Also when I started getting radical that is when church folks really started examining me and trying to point out shortcomings. Meaning you are making me look bad, you better just be a dead good for nothing Church going Christian like me, or I will come against you.

God sent me away from this environment because He knew His power would be limited in my life. God wants to send many out of their comfortable environments so He can greatly use them, but few are willing to go? Many are choosing their family and friends over Christ. Yes, they still go to church, and serve diligently, but they have not really answered the call. They have dropped out of the school of the Holy Spirit, and have enrolled in the school of religion and tradition.