Your Word Have I Hidden In My Heart - Part 1308

And [Jesus] said to them all, "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me." (Luke 9:23)

When we study what Jesus actually said in the ninth chapter of Luke's writing, we begin to understand how far we -- as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ by faith -- have ventured from our destined calling. How far removed we have become from taking up His cross and following Him daily. How too often, the instruction to not forsake the assembling of the saints has led to a diligence in church attendance and man-made traditions, without taking hold of the very purpose and essence of Jesus' instructions -- pressing into Jesus with all our heart, soul, mind and strength -- daily!

Luke begins this chapter with Jesus calling His twelve disciples together. Therein, He gave them -- His disciples power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases, and to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. (Luke 9:1-2) 

And He said unto them, "Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart. And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them." (Luke 9:3-5)

Note the disciples response. 

"And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing everywhere." (Luke 9:6)

Did they wait for additional instructions from the leaders of the church? No, they went immediately through the towns preaching the gospel and healing everywhere. And when the apostles returned, they told Jesus everything that they had done. The signs and wonders and miracles that had been performed throughout their journey. We know that there must have been an impact because when Jesus then took them privately into a desert place belonging to a city called Bethsaida, the people when they know it, followed Him, and He received them. Therein, Jesus spoke to them of the kingdom of God and healed them that had need of healing. (Luke 9:10-11)

And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve asking Jesus to send them away so that they may go into the towns and country round about and lodge and get victuals, "for we are here in a desert place." (Luke 9:12)

But Jesus had a better plan for the multitudes, that included about five thousand men. He said unto them, "Give ye them to eat." But the disciples -- these same disciples that had just been out there performing signs and wonders and healing the sick in towns throughout the countryside, were concerned. "We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people." (Luke 9:13)

Should we ask -- what happened to their faith? Here they were conversing with the King of kings and Lord of lords and yet, when Jesus said to give the multitudes to eat, they thought that included a shopping trip. How many times have we been where His disciples are? Sidetracked by the necessities and obligations of life, rather than focusing "daily" on the Almighty. "Thy Word have I hid in my heart," as the psalmist wrote.

In this case, we know the result. Jesus took the five loaves and two fishes and looking up to heaven, He blessed them and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude. And when they were done eating and full, there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets. (Luke 9:14-17)

But what would have happened had the disciples understood the power and authority that Jesus had given them earlier in Luke 9:1-2? Or, understood what Jesus meant when He said, ""Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece ..." (Luke 9:3) And yet, is this not the same message intended for us today? 

Of course, not everyone was glad to hear the good news message. We see Herod the tetrach who had heard of all that was being done by Jesus, and he was perplexed because some in the company had said that John (whom he had beheaded) had risen from the dead. Others were saying that Elias had appeared, or one of the old prophets had come back to life. As we know from Luke's account, Herod had desired to see Jesus. (Luke 9:7-9)

"And it came to pass, as He was alone praying, His disciples were with Him: and He asked them, saying, "Whom say the people that I am?" They answering said, "John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again." [Then Jesus] said unto them, "But whom say ye that I am?" Peter answering said, "The Christ of God." And He straitly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing; saying, "The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day." (Luke 9:18-22)

But Jesus did not stop there. He had a particular message for those who followed Him.

And He said to them all, "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for My sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? For whosoever shall be ashamed of Me and of My words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He shall come in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels. But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:23-27)

There is much more to understand in Luke 9, but the message today is learning to understand and respond to Jesus call -- "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me." (Luke 9:23)

In the world we will still face the Herod's who want to discover what is happening, but not necessarily subscribe to the good news gospel message. Nevertheless, the Lord placed His purpose in our heart whilst we were still in our mother's womb, and we need to follow through, as someone who has put the plough to the ground and is not turning back.

Pressing into Jesus, and allowing Him to work through us, so that others might know the truth that can set them free too. Why? Because at the end of our life, it will not matter if we gain the whole world and lose our own soul as a consequence. As believers in Jesus, and water baptized in His precious name according to Acts 2:36-47, we can attest to knowing personally the Christ of God. Thus, when we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, we can know that we too have been given the power and authority over all devils, to cure diseases, to preach the kingdom of God and heal the sick, 

Unfortunately, in today's world, it is the stepping out in faith that holds us back. That leaves us thinking we must go out on a shopping expedition for the circumstance at hand, rather than knowing that His Word is true in every situation. Thy Word have I hid in my heart, and as a consequence, we need to take up His cross daily and follow Him.

For Jesus never fails.

Stand in the offering plate.