In
Matthew 8:1-17, we see Jesus' healing ministry. There are three
miracles - healing people who were suffering from "a skin disease"
(Matthew 8:1-4), paralysis (Matthew 8:5-13) and "a fever" (Matthew
8:14-15). After these three miracles, we have a more general statement
about the ministry of casting out demons (Matthew 8:16-17). This is
followed by Matthew 8:18 - "Now, when Jesus saw a crowd around Him, He
ordered His disciples to cross to the other side of the Sea of Galilee."
Jesus was moving from place to place, taking His ministry to more
people.
We read about Elijah in his high-points of strength - the triumph over the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:36-39) - and his low-points of weakness - he is ready to give up: “I’ve had enough now, Lord” (1 Kings 19:4). How did Elijah get into such a mess? He forgot this: “The Lord’s power was on Elijah” (1 Kings 18:46). In all life’s ups and downs, we must hold on to this: The Lord has sent His Spirit of power to live in us (2 Timothy 1:7). How are we to live in the power of the Spirit? We need to feed on the Word of God and drink in the Word of God (1 Kings 17:4). We need to pray that the Lord will send His showers of blessing (1 Kings 17:14). We are to live our life “according to the Word of the Lord” (1 Kings 17:16). For our life of faith to be strong in the Lord, we need to listen attentively to the preaching of God’s Word (1 Kings 17:24).
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