Our message series is called “Following Jesus.” In this series, we’re learning from the Gospel of Luke what it means to follow Jesus. To be a follower of Jesus means more than just saying that you believe in Him. A true follower of Jesus actually follows Him. A true follower of Jesus becomes more and more like Him. Like Him in character, in words and in actions.
Today our message is entitled “Healing Power of the Spirit.” To begin, let’s look at how the Gospel of Matthew summarized Jesus’ ministry.
Matthew 4:23 (ESV) And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.
First of all, we see Jesus preaching the good news of the Kingdom of God. He taught the people God’s Word and called on them to repent and believe. Secondly, Jesus healed every disease and affliction through the power of the Spirit. These were supernatural healing miracles.
Matthew 4:24 (ESV) So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them.
What was the result of Jesus healing people? Jesus’ reputation as a healer went viral and people began to travel to have an opportunity to be healed. Not only did Jesus heal people of various diseases and pains, but He also healed those oppressed by demons. So the third category of Jesus’ ministry was that of deliverance, casting out demonic powers from people’s lives. Jesus’ healing and deliverance ministry demonstrated that the Gospel He preached was not simply words. It had the power of God behind it. You might say, well that was Jesus, how does that apply to me? Jesus taught His followers to do the same things.
Mark 6:12-13 (ESV) So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.
Jesus’ followers did exactly the same three things that He did. They proclaimed the good news of the kingdom, calling on people to repent. They cast our demons from people and set them free. Finally, we see that they anointed sick people with oil and healed them. These supernatural signs and wonders authenticated the message of the Gospel as being from God Himself.
When the Word of God is authenticated by the power of God, you have revival. Revival is when you have people responding to the Gospel and being saved. As well as the sick being healed and those oppressed by demons being set free. Revival is what we are praying for to see in our church and in our city. How many want to see these same three things happened here? I’m sure that we all do. Let’s see how we can grow as followers of Jesus as we continue our study of Luke 4. As a follower of Jesus, God desires for you …