Lucas 8
William MacDonald · Citado em PreceptAustin
Lucas 8
William MacDonald - Her public confession was rewarded with a public commendation of her faith by Jesus, and a public pronouncement of His peace upon her. No one ever touches Jesus by faith without His knowing it, and without receiving a blessing. No one ever confesses Him openly without being strengthened in assurance of salvation. (Borrow Believer's Bible Commentary) Leon
Lucas 8
William MacDonald - They not only received the word but allowed it to mold their lives. They were teachable and obedient, developing true Christian character and producing fruit for God. (Believer's Bible Commentary) THOUGHT: The preceding comment begs a simple question - Are you allowing the Word to mold you or is the world molding you? (Ro 12:2+) You can't have it both ways (cf Mt 6:24+, 1 Ki 18:21, James 1:8+). Either you are growing more Christ-like or more worldly-minded! For a true believer to fall into this trap of backsliding is sad and will result in eternal loss of rewards. If this condition persists, then one who professes Christ as Savior and Lord needs to do an honest internal examination as in 2 Cor 13:5+ lest they end up shocked when they hear Jesus tell them to "Depart from Me. I never knew you!" (Mt 7:21-23+). Luke adds that these "bear fruit with perseverance." Thus perseverance is the condition in which we are enabled by the Holy Spirit to bear fruit, this fruit bearing serving to prove that we are genuine saints! Stated another way, a saint without fruit ain't! That is to say, a person who professes to be a saint, but never bears fruit "ain't a saint," bad grammar, but accurate theology! THOUGHT - Those figures represent yields of 3,000, 6,000, and 10,000 percent! Usually the yields were less than eightfold, and a crop that produced tenfold would have been extraordinary. But here God speaks of supernatural fruit not natural fruit. This should get us excited, for this fruit is not necessarily harvested on this earth, but it will be harvested in Heaven and it will remain or endure eternally (cf Jn 15:16)! Mark it down beloved, when we sow the Gospel, it goes forth empowered by the Spirit of God and the results are supernatural, even "far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power (THE SPIRIT) that (WHO) works within us." (Eph 3:20+). What is the upshot? Sow the Gospel seed today while it is still called today, "night is coming when no one can work." (Jn 9:4) Redeem the Time for eternity, for the glory of the Lord!
Lucas 8
William MacDonald - Jesus was asleep when the storm broke; the fact that He slept attests His true humanity. The storm went to sleep when Jesus spoke; this fact attests His absolute deity.....What He did to the Sea of Galilee, He can do to the troubled, storm-tossed disciple today. (Borrow Believer's Bible Commentary) Hendriksen on rebuked the wind notes that some say Jesus' rebuke implies the storm was caused by Satan, but he notes that "this line of argumentation is rather weak, because: 1. According to Job 28:25 it is God, not Satan, who is in control of the winds. See also Ps. 48:7; 78:26; 104:3; 107:25; 135:7; 147:18; 148:8; Isa. 11:15; Jer. 10:13; Amos 4:13; Jonah 1:4; 4:8. 2. That these demons had anything to do with bringing on the storm is not stated. Far more reasonable, therefore, is the theory according to which it was God who made use of physical forces he had himself brought into being, employing them for the realization of his own purpose. The so-called "laws of nature" are, after all, his laws. In this connection note the following: The sea of Galilee is located in the north of the valley of the Jordan. It is about thirteen miles in length and seven and one-half miles in width. It lies approximately six hundred eighty feet below the level of the Mediterranean. Its bed is a depression surrounded by hills, especially on the east side with its precipitous cliffs. When cool currents rush down from Mt. Hermon (9,200 feet) or from elsewhere and through narrow passages between the steep hills collide with the heated air above the lake basin, this downrush is impetuous. The violent winds whip the water into a fury, causing high waves that splash over bow, side rails, etc., of any vessel that happens to be plying the water surface. In the present instance the fishing craft, swamped by towering billows, was becoming water-logged, the toy of the raging elements. When Luke says, "They began to be swamped," he means "Their boat did." From a human point of view the little group was certainly in great danger. (Borrow Exposition of the Gospel of Luke)
Lucas 8
William MacDonald - He asked the disciples, "Where is your faith?" They should not have worried. They did not need to awaken Him. "No water can swallow the ship where lies the Master of ocean and earth and skies." To be with Christ in the boat is to be absolutely safe and secure.The disciples did not fully appreciate the extent of the power of their Master. Their understanding of Him was defective. (Believer's Bible Commentary - borrow) Warren