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Luke 13:10-17; “Real Meets Ritual”

Jesus is the Real Deal! He is the Messiah. He really desires that we know Him more and more and spend eternity with Him. So what does the Real Jesus have to say to us today? 

Today’s story in Luke tells how Jesus was in a synagogue teaching and there was a woman in attendance that had been crippled by a spirit for 18 years and was bent over and could not straighten up. (Note not possessed by a spirit but crippled by a spirit.) Luke recognizes that there is a spiritual dimension to our world. This was not just a physical illness. 

Jesus does something surprising. He calls the woman to come up to Him. He understands her plight, says, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” The Word of Jesus is a word of power! When He speaks, even the demonic spirits listen! 

He laid His hands on her. Don’t you wonder what that was like to experience the loving hands of Jesus on her? Then she immediately straightened up and praised God because she was healed but also because she understood the Living God, come to earth, spoke a word of power that defeated the 18 years demonic hold. 

How does this story call us today to re-evaluate our worldview and what is real?

Challenge #1

• Will we accept a Biblical or Western worldview? 

Today the Western worldview dominates even within Christian circles. The Bible tells us there is an ongoing spiritual war. There are demons, though not responsible for every difficulty or trial, we are to be discerning, to seek God first, trusting that he is real and can be relied upon. 

We are called to adopt a Biblical worldview and allow the scriptures to guide and direct our thinking, to allow God’s Word to speak into our lives. 

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