THE FAITH OF FRIENDS

WHO CAN FORGIVE SINS?

Read Luke 5:17–26

      When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven." Luke 5:20 NIV

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      In this story, some determined men brought their friend to Jesus to be healed. They removed some tiles from the roof of the house and lowered him right in front of the Lord. When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven." (5:20)
      The Pharisees thought to themselves, "Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" (5:21) and because Jesus was God, he knew what they were thinking. So He said, "Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?"(5:22)

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      There is nothing that we can say or think in our hearts of which Jesus is not aware–He knows our every thought. Lord, I want to pray, as David did, "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer." (Psalm 19:14 NKJV)

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      Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, "Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? " Luke 5:22–23 NIV

HE KNOWS OUR HEARTS

FISHERS OF MEN

Read Luke 5:1–11

      When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!"… Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." Luke 5:8–10 NIV

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      Simon Peter had seen Jesus heal his own mother-in-law and He had even witnessed demons coming out of people, shouting, "You are the Son of God!" (Luke 4:41)    

     Then one day, Jesus went fishing with Peter on a slow fishing day and they caught so many fish that the two boats began to sink from the weight. This was the miracle that convinced Peter and his partners that Jesus was no ordinary man – He was the Son of God. From then on, Peter, James and John left their fishing business and followed Jesus.

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     Dear Father, You said, "it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8-9) You knew what Peter needed to bring him to faith, and You knew what I needed. Lord, give me the words to share with others in a way that is meaningful to them. Speak to the hearts of our children to inspire them in a walk of faith throughout their lives. Make us "fishers of men."

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      He and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners… So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. Luke 5:9–11 NIV

THE ACCUSER OF MAN

SATAN TEMPTS JESUS

Read Matthew 4:1–11

     Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. Matthew 4:1 NIV

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      Satan, the enemy of God, is ever the accuser of man. In the book of Job, Satan tried to humiliate God by testing his servant, Job. Now, the Son of God himself has become a man, in order to redeem men back to God.

      As Satan tempts Jesus he repeatedly says, "If you are the Son of God," (4:3, 6) mocking His deity. Then as if Satan were God himself, he boasts, "All this I will give you, if you will bow down and worship me." (4:9) At this point, Jesus says, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only." (4:10)

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      Lord, You said that we wrestle not with flesh and blood, but with the powers of darkness. You are the one who is able to put a hedge of protection around our immediate family and our church family. We are no match for Satan who is adept at quoting Scripture for his own purpose ─ we must pray as You have instructed, "lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." (6:13)

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      Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. Matthew 4:11 NIV

HE MUST BECOME GREATER

REPENT THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND

Read Matthew 4:12–17; John 3:22–36

     The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less" John 3:29-30 NIV

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      John's ministry was about to come to an end. His message was: Repent! The kingdom of Heaven is at hand! The Messiah is here – prepare your hearts! As John was thrown into prison, Jesus' three year ministry began. When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples to ask him, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?" (Matthew 11:2–3)

      Jesus sent word that he was indeed the Messiah, proven by the signs of His miracles. Of John, Jesus said, I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. (Matthew 11:11)

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      Lord, because of the ministry of faithful men and women, we heard the gospel. I pray that our home will be a lighthouse shining in the darkness, helping others find the Way. Like John said, "He must become greater and I must become less." May we do all things for Your glory.

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      When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee… From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." Matthew 4: 12, 17 NIV

THIS IS MY SON

JESUS BAPTISM

Read: John 1:29-34, Matthew 3:13-17

      'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God." John 1:33-34 NIV

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      John had never seen Jesus as an adult before the day of His baptism. He said of Him, "I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God." (John 1:33-34) When the Spirit came down in the form of a dove, a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:16-17)

      John the Baptist was not in the center of Jesus' earthly ministry, or even His early life. He was given the special task of calling people to repent before Jesus came. His ministry was brief in years and yet so important it was prophesied  by the angel Gabriel to his father before he was born. (Luke 1:17)

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     Lord, we have a limited time on this earth to influence our generation and the next. But we have all the time we need to do Your perfect will. Help us to make the most of every opportunity and remember the priority of loving others and leading them to You.

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      The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!     John 1:29