Lawrence DeMetrius

Lyrics

Letter of Apostle Luke – The Gospel
An Intimate Review
Pt 3
By Lawrence DeMetrius

Faith That Yields Results

In [Lk 7:1-10] Apostle Luke notes a miraculous healing granted to the beloved servant of a centurion who worshiped Yahweh. He was a humble man with great authority over public and domestic servants. In so being, he was acquainted with authority to give commands and have them carried out. Thus, he had regard for Christ’s authority to invoke miracles by His command. Being a wise man, he sent Hebrew elders in his stead to attest of his reverence for Yahweh and of his personal character. His faith and humility moved Christ to immediately grant the healing he desired for his servant. The centurion’s experience exemplifies how genuine reverence, humility and faith in Christ can yield the results one desires of THE LORD for self and others.

Jesus Christ Raiser of the Dead and Reviver of Hope

In [Lk 7:11-17] Jesus Christ speaks life back into the bodies of those who were literally dead. Such public display was purposed to glorify Yahweh and promote awareness of Himself as the prophesied Messiah. This particular miracle was done out of compassion for a widow mother whose only male child died. By raising her only son from the dead, Jesus Christ also revived her hope for a better future. Per the cultural milieu of this time, the fate of women was often dependent upon the men in their lives. Thus, the revival of her son was indeed a marvelous thing in her perspective. Per the will of Yahweh, Christ will do the same for anyone who puts their trust in Him.

Jesus Christ Proves Himself and John the Baptist

In [Lk 7:18-35] Apostle Luke notes that John the Baptist sent a few of his disciples to ask Jesus if He was the Prophesied Christ. The Lord Jesus responded first in action, then referred them to written prophecies regarding the works that the Prophesied Christ would do upon His arrival.
In so doing, John was assured the Jesus was indeed the Prophesied Christ. When necessary, the brethren of Christ are admonished to prove who they are in Christ by the works He said they would do in His Name. [Mt 5:14-16, 19; Jn 14:12] Being His Forerunner, Christ honored John the Baptist as the greatest of all prophets born of women. [Isa 40:3; St Jn 1:6-8, 15-39] History has it that John the Baptist was an extremely powerful and renown prophet who taught masses of people. Those who believed his teaching and desired spiritual regeneration were baptized with his baptism. However, like Christ and all true messengers of Yahweh, there were many who rejected his gospel and refused his baptism, including many Hebrews. [Isa 54:13; Jn 6:37-40, 44, 45; Eze36:25-27; Heb 10:15, 16; II Tim 2:24-26]

Soul Saving Faith

In [Lk 7:36-50] Apostle Luke notes that no matter how great sin is in one’s life, when they reverently acknowledge Jesus as the Christ, desire and welcome Him into their hearts, He will forgive and liberate them from the power of sin. In fact, it is one’s personal faith in Him that invokes eternal salvation. [Rm 10:9, 10; Rev 3:20; St Jn 1:12, 13; 3:16-19, 36; 14:21, 23; Jam 1:13-15; I Jn 1:8-10, 2:1, 2; Rev 2:7-11]

Yahweh Honors Women Who Financially Support His Earthly Ministries

In [Lk 8:1-3] Apostle Luke writes of women who financially supported the mission of Jesus Christ. These women included Mary Magdalene, Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward Susanna and many others who were beneficiaries of divine healing and deliverance. Women have always been a vital part of divine ministry. Regardless of the cultural milieu of their generation, Yahweh has always bestowed great honor on women who support The Ministry of Divine Iconoclasm.

Ears that Hear

In [Lk 8:4-15] Apostle Luke notes a parable that expounds upon the various types of HEARERS that encounter divine words. Ironically, only 25% of this audience are considered GOOD GROUND.


Jesus Christ said,

He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
[Lk 8:8]

*ears Gk #3775 ous (ooce) it is the physical and mental ear, sense of hearing, heed and attention

*hear Gk #191 akouo (ak-oo-o) it is to hear in various senses and understand

In [Lk 8:9, 10] Apostle Luke notes that only Yahweh can provide the EAR to HEAR divine revelation and does so to those who reverently acknowledgment The Testimony of Jesus Christ. [II Tim 2:24-26; II Cor 4:3-7; 10:4, 5] Prior to expounding upon this parable, Christ clarifies that only His disciples are granted opportunity to KNOW the MYSTERIES of Yahweh’s kingdom. Thus, those who are not disciples of Jesus Christ are given parables whereby SEEING some cannot not SEE and in HEARING cannot UNDERSTAND. This is so because Yahweh only imparts divine insight to HIS true worshipers. [Ps 25:14; Isa 54:13; Jn 6:44, 45, 65]

*know Gk #1097 ginosko (ghin-oce-ko) it means to know absolutely

*mysteries Gk #3466 musterion (moos-tay-ree-on) it is a secret through the idea of silence imposed by initiation into religious rites

*seeing/see Gk #991 blepo (blep-o) it means to look at

*understand Gk #4920 suniemi (soon-ee-ay-mee) it means to put together, mentally comprehend and act piously or wisely

Per King Solomon, one cannot begin to receive divine wisdom let alone act per divine wisdom, until they have reverently acknowledged, understand and are set to obey Yahweh’s Word. [Pro 1:7; 3:5-8; Isa 29:10-12] In [Lk 8:11] Christ explains FOUR TYPES of HEARERS that encounter divine words. He begins by disclosing that the SEED sown by the SOWER is Yahweh’s WORD.



*word Gk #3056 logos (log-os) it is…
1. something said including the thought
2. a topic or subject of discourse
3. reasoning of the mental faculty
4. a computation which is the making sense of a thing
5. Divine expression i.e., Christ the Word

The audience of those who HEAR the word are inclusive of the following.

1. The WAYSIDE hearer from whom the WORD is taken by DEVILS before they have a chance to BELIEVE and be SAVED thereby. [Lk 8:12]

*devil Gk #1228 diabolos (dee-ab-ol-os) it is one who slanders, defames and speaks maliciously and falsely of another of whom Lucifer is chief

*believe Gk #4100 pisteuo (pist-yoo-o) it means to credit, have faith in, upon or with respect to a person or thing and to entrust especially one’s spiritual well-being to Jesus Christ

saved Gk #4982 sozo (sode-zo) it means to save, deliver and protect

2. The ROCKY HEART hearer who RECEIVES the WORD with JOY but FALLS AWAY from it in times of TEMPTATION because they fail to let it take ROOT within them. [Lk 8:13]

*receive Gk #1209 dechomai (dekh-om-ahee) it means to take and accept

*joy Gk #5479 chara (khar-ah) it is cheerfulness and calm delight

*fall away Gk #868 aphistemi (af-is-tay-mee) it means to remove, actively instigate to revolt, desist and withdraw from

*root Gk #4491 rhiza (hrid-zah) it is a root, which is the…
1. part of a plant that grows down into the soil to anchor it, so it might absorb nutriment and moisture
2. fundamental or essential part of a thing
3. source or origin of a thing
*temptation Gk #3986 peirasmos (pi-ras-mos) it is adversity and a putting to proof by experiment of good or experience of evil

3. The THORNY HEART hearers which are those who go forth after HEARING the WORD, which becomes CHOKED by CARES, RICHES and PLEASURES of the mortal life. Thus, rendering the WORD powerless to produce FRUIT TO PERFECTION. [Lk 8:14; Mt 6:19-21, 24; 19:16-29; Lk 12:15; Rm 8:5-9; I Tim 6:4-10, 17-19; I Jn 2:15-17; 5:20, 21]

*choked Gk# 4846 sumpnigo (soom-pnee-go) it means to strangle, drown or crowd

*cares Gk #3308 merimna (mer-im-nah) it solicitude, which is… [Mt 13:22]
1. the state of being solicitous
2. anxiety and causes of anxiety, care and concern
3. an attitude expressing excessive attentiveness

*riches Gk #4149 ploutos (ploo-tos) it is fullness of wealth, money, possessions, valuable bestowment and abundant richness

*pleasures Gk #2237 hedone (hay-don-ay) it is sensual delight and desire [II Tim 3:4]
1. sensual is…
a. pertaining to, inclined to or preoccupied with the gratification of the senses and appetites of the flesh and carnal nature
b. lacking in moral restraints, lewd and unchaste
c. arousing or exciting the senses or appetites
d. worldly, materialistic and irreligious
e. pertaining to the philosophical doctrine of sensationalism
2. delight is…
a. a high degree of pleasure, enjoyment, joy and rapture
b. something that gives great pleasure
3. desire is…
a. a longing or craving for something that brings satisfaction or enjoyment
b. an expressed wish, request or something desired
c. sexual appetite or urge
*fruit to perfection Gk #5052 telesphoreo (tel-es-for-eh-o) it means to be a bearer to completion, maturity and ripeness [Jn 15:1-5; Gal 5:22; Jam 1:5-8]

4. The GOOD GROUND hearers which are people with HONEST and GOOD HEARTS, who KEEP the WORD upon HEARING it and bring forth GOOD FRUIT with PATIENCE. [Lk 8:15; 21:19; Rev 3:8, 10; Jam 1:2-4]

*honest Gk #2570 kalos (kal-oce) it means intrinsically beautiful, literally and morally good and valuable for appearance and use

*good Gk #18 agathos (ag-ath-os) it means beneficial and good in any sense

*heart Gk #2588 kardia (kar-dee-ah) it is the heart and figurative of thought, feeling, mind and middle

*keep Gk #2722 katecho (kat-ekh-o) it means to hold down or hold fast

*fruit Gk #2592 karpophoreo (kar-pof-or-eh-o) it means to be fertile and capable of bearing or producing abundantly

*patience Gk #5281 hupomone (hoop-om-on-ay) it is cheerful and hopeful endurance and constancy [I Jn 3:1-3]

GOOD GROUND HEARERS know the value of PATIENCE. They also acknowledge their mortal limitations and faithfully entrust their holistic well-being to the strength of Christ within. [Jn 15:1-5; II Cor 12:9; Phil 4:13; Rev 3:8]

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