Deep Water Fishing

February 5

(Luke 5:1-4 NIV) “One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, {2} he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. {3} He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. {4} When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”

(1 Corinthians 2:9-12 NIV) “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"-- {10} but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. {11} For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. {12} We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.”

While Jesus was preaching to a large crowd, He got into a fishing boat and went out onto the water. He did this for a couple of reasons. First, water is a natural voice amplifier. Sound skips across water like a flat stone. Having created water, sound, and the human ear, Jesus would have known this. Secondly, Jesus was interested in the boat’s owner, Simon, who would later become known as Peter, the Rock of the Church. Jesus knew Peter before Peter knew Jesus. Isn’t that the way it works for all of us? Christ was looking for some “fishers of men”, and on this day, He took Peter into the deep water to teach him a lesson in both fishing and faith. We’re all called to be “fishers of men”, and at some point, Jesus takes us all out into the deep water for some lessons in faith. Are you in over your head today? Maybe God is trying to teach you something. Pay attention! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day  

Preach the Good News

February 4

(Luke 4:42-44 NIV) “At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. {43} But he said, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent." {44} And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.”

(2 Timothy 4:1-5 NIV) “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: {2} Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction. {3} For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. {4} They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. {5} But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.”

Jesus needed time alone to stay in touch with His Father, and to keep His calling in focus. Jesus healed people, and they would beg him to stay and do more. But Jesus was called by God to preach the good news in as many places as possible. He said, “I MUST preach. That’s why I was sent.” And so He left a place where His healing ministry could have been very lucrative. Jesus was a preacher. He is still preaching if we will listen, but we resist. A favorite phrase in our culture today is, “Don’t preach to me. I don’t want any sermons.” We don’t want anyone speaking God’s truth to us, even though we desperately need it. If this is your attitude, then you don’t want Jesus. Jesus was a preacher. That’s why He was sent. He is still preaching through faithful, obedient, Spirit filled servants who have heard His call, and those with wisdom will be hearing Him. Are you listening? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

The Deliverance Man

February 3

(Luke 4:41 NIV) “Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, "You are the Son of God!" But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Christ.”

(Acts 19:11-12 NIV) “God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, {12} so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.”  

(Acts 26:17-18 NIV) “I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them {18} to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'”

Jesus is the Deliverer. Everywhere He went, He demonstrated His Lordship over all things. When He arrived, demons trembled. When He spoke, they obeyed. Jesus is Lord. God’s plan is that we be delivered from darkness and brought into the light -- that we turn from the power of evil to the power of God. Then we are called to become advocates for deliverance. God has chosen to work through us, but first, we must be delivered from whatever has mastered us. Whatever has us under its thumb… addictions, attitudes, hurts, sins… we must allow God to set us free. We must be delivered before we can help others find freedom in His name. Christ rescues us, restores us, and then sends us out in His name as agents of deliverance. The name of Jesus still has authority and power today, and we are privileged to use it in freeing ourselves and others. Jesus is still the Deliverer. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Healed to Serve

February 2

(Luke 4:38-40 NIV) “Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon's mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. {39} So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them. {40} When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them.”

(Mark 5:18-20 NIV) “As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. {19} Jesus did not let him, but said, "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." {20} So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.”

Jesus was a healer. He preached, delivered, and discipled -- but he was also a healer. Everywhere Christ went, people were brought to him who needed healing and deliverance. Every one of them were healed and delivered. When Jesus spoke, healing happened. When it came to sickness, addiction, demonic possession and every other malady of mankind, He batted a thousand. He never failed. Jesus is Lord. But His healing and deliverance have a purpose. We are delivered to witness. We are healed to serve. Think about it. Death is a blessing for those who believe. We are heaven bound. So there must be a reason for Christ’s earthly healing. Simon’s mother models it for us. Jesus healed her, and immediately, she got up and began to serve others. This is God’s call for the healed and delivered. We are healed to serve. Let’s get to it. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day   

Power and Authority for Believers

February 1

(Luke 4:32, 36 NIV) “They were amazed at his teaching, because his message had authority. {36} With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits and they come out!”

(Romans 1:16 NIV) “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.”

(Colossians 2:9-10 NIV) “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, {10} and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.”

Jesus had power and authority, and He passed some of that power and authority on to his disciples. That would include us, if we are followers of Jesus. He gave His disciples authority to share the gospel with the world and told them they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them. Christians, we have the same power and authority to share the gospel as those early disciples. We have been given fullness in Christ. We have been filled with the Holy Spirit. This gospel that we carry around in our hearts is nothing to be ashamed of. It has authority. It has power for the salvation of everyone who believes. Do you understand what this means? We have the words of life. We have the power that changes lives. We have authority to overcome evil. Christ lives in us. Let him out! Stand and deliver the gospel with power and authority. Honor God’s call on your life. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day