Filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 1-16)

Luke.1

A Gentile physician chronicles an account of the gospel.

6 - “...They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord...” How does one do this pre-Christ, or even post-Christ?

11-20 Zacharias has an encounter with the spiritual world.

26-38 Mary has an encounter with the spiritual world.

41 - Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit.

67 - Zacharias is filled with the Holy Spirit.

76,77 John’s mission - the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of sins [forgiveness is the first step. Not to be equated with salvation?]

Luke.2

1-20 The Christmas story: Caesar Augustus, census, Quirinius, Galillee, Nazareth, Bethlehem, birth, wrapped, manger, no room, shepherds, Mary treasured.

25 The Holy Spirit was upon Simeon

30 - “...For my eyes have seen Your salvation...” 33 years before the justification accomplished at the cross

41-50 By the age of 12, Jesus already recognized his place “...in My Father’s House...”

52 - “...And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men...”

Luke.3

2 - “...in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness...” What kind of soil did the word land in?

8 - “...Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father,' for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham...”

9 - "...Indeed the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; so every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire..."

10-14 Three “...what shall we do...” Questions.

Generosity - food and clothing.

Honesty - tax collectors.

Fair and Content - soldiers.

22 - “...and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, "You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased..." Elizabeth, Zacharius, Simeon, Jesus!

23-38 Mary’s genealogy back to Adam

Luke.4

1,2 - “...Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He became hungry...” Would you like ‘led by the Spirit’ to not include contact with the devil? What was Jesus’ driving force?

3-13 Every temptation answered with ‘it is written’. Good approach?

FP 18,19 (Is.61:1,2) What was the mission? What is our mission?

- preach the good news to the poor.

- release the captives.

- sight for the blind.

- free the oppressed.

- proclaim the day of the Lord.

Jesus didn’t quote the entire passage. Is.61:2 includes ‘the day of vengeance’ (2nd coming?)

24-30 What enraged the home town crowd to the point of trying to throw Jesus off a cliff? [God working for non-Jews, challenging the Jews’ specialness]

39 - “...And standing over her, He rebuked the fever, and it left her; and she immediately got up and waited on them...” Would He give her a tylenol today?

Luke.5

1-11 More details about why the fishermen would leave everything and follow Him.

9 - “...For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken;..”

16 - “...But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray...” Why? Mission focus?

17-26 Faith, forgiveness, freedom for paralytic. Scribes and Pharisees ‘began to reason’. Too much head and not enough heart.

32 - “...I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance..." Are we losing this concept?

Luke.6

1-11 Scribes and Pharisees are playing umpire and sheriff, making judgments on Jesus’ Sabbath actions.

11 - “...But they themselves were filled with rage, and discussed together what they might do to Jesus...” Why?

12-16 Jesus spends the whole night in prayer, then selects His disciples.

19 - “...And all the people were trying to touch Him, for power was coming from Him and healing them all...” From v12?

20-45 Kingdom standards:

Beatitudes (from Latin for blessing)

Loving enemies.

No judging.

Fruit bearing.

46-49 Building on rock or sand. Storms will come. Which stands? How does one build on rock?

47 - “...Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like:...”

Luke.7

1-10 Jesus marvels at the faith of the centurion, a great faith not found in Israel. What was the basis of this great faith? [understanding authority]

11-17 Raises a widows son from the dead.

18-23 John the Baptist, surprisingly, needs confirmation that Jesus is the expected one. Why?

30 - “...But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God's purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by John...” How? [lack of repentance]

47 “...he who is forgiven little, loves little...”

Luke.8

1-3 Jesus’ ministry team included more than the 12 disciples. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, and many other ‘contributors to their support’.

4-18 Parable of the 4 soils.

11 - seed is the word of God.

15 - hold it fast, and bear fruit.

18 - take care how you listen.

22-25 Jesus rebukes the wind, the surging waves, and His fearful, faithless disciples.

26-39 Multiple demons (Legion) cast out of a man

31 - “...They were imploring Him not to command them to go away into the abyss...”

Swine, to lake, drown. Where did the demons go? Luke 11:24-26 “...When the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and not finding any, it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' "And when it comes, it finds it swept and put in order. "Then it goes and takes along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first..."

40-56 Synagogue official’s daughter and woman with 12 yr bleed are healed.

48 - “...And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace..."

50 - “...But when Jesus heard this, He answered him, "Do not be afraid any longer; only believe, and she will be made well..."

Luke.9

1 - “...And He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases...” Power and authority. Do we have these?

9 - Herod kept trying to see Jesus.

10-17 5000 fed.

18-20 Peter calls Jesus “The Christ of God”.

23,24 - “...And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it...”

28-36 Transfiguration story includes info not present in other gospel accounts. A planning meeting?

31 - “...who, appearing in glory, were speaking of His departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem...”

37-43 Down from the mountain, from glory to a fallen world.

41 - “...And Jesus answered and said, "You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here..."

56 - “...for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them."] And they went on to another village...”

Luke.10

1-20 Seventy are sent out: ** Not just the 12

2 - because laborers were needed for the harvest.

3 - lambs among wolves.

5 - to take peace.

9 - heal the sick, proclaim the Kingdom of God.

17 - even the demons are subject.

20 - “...Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven..."

25-37 Good Samaritan story told to lawyer in response to ‘who is my neighbor’.

37 - “...And he said, "The one who showed mercy toward him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do the same..."

38-42 Mary and Martha

Luke.11

1-13 Teaching on prayer. Ask, Seek, Knock.

13 - “...If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?..."

23 - “...He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me, scatters...”

28 - “...But He said, "On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it..."

35 - “...Then watch out that the light in you is not darkness....” 33-36?

42 - “...But woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithe of mint and rue and every kind of garden herb, and yet disregard justice and the love of God; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others...” What is the essence of our faith?

52 - “...Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge; you yourselves did not enter, and you hindered those who were entering..."

Luke.12

4,5 - “...I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. "But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!...”

15 - “...Then He said to them, "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions..."

21 - “...So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God..."

31 - “...But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you...”

33 - “...Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys....” He’s speaking this to His disciples, not the rich young ruler.

47 - “...And that slave who knew his master's will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will receive many lashes,...”

Luke.13

3 - “...I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish...”

11,12 - “...And there was a woman who for eighteen years had had a sickness caused by a spirit; and she was bent double, and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said to her, "Woman, you are freed from your sickness..." Don’t find this in an medical textbooks.

24 - “...Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able...” Doesn’t sound like indifference, just ineffectiveness.

Luke.14

11 - “...For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted..."

25-35 Cost of discipleship.

33 - “...So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions...”

Luke.15

7 - “...I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance...”

10 - “...In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents..."

11-32 Prodigal’s repentance.

Luke.16

13 - “...No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth..."

15 - “...And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God...”

Doing Kingdom Business (Mark 5-16)

Mark.5

1-20 Man possessed by a Legion of demons is liberated.

25-34 Woman with flow of blood healed.

26 - “...and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse...”

34 - “...And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your affliction..."

Why 12 years of suffering? Why heal her now? Normal for the Kingdom?

Ex.15:26 “...And He said, "If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the Lord, am your healer..."

35-42 Twelve year old girl dies, but Jesus restores her life.

36 - “...But Jesus, overhearing what was being spoken, said to the synagogue official, "Do not be afraid any longer, only believe..."

The presence of the Kingdom brings hope when hope is in danger of being extinguished.

43 - “...And He gave them strict orders that no one should know about this, and He said that something should be given her to eat...” Why Not? Why not God gets the Glory? [the mission was not to be impeded by the spectacular]

Mark.6

1-6 Home town unbelief. “It is what it is” instead of “It should and can be better”.

7-13 Disciples given authority, preached repentance, cast out demons, many sick people healed.

14-29 Why was John the Baptist beheaded? Selfish rejection of the kingdom message to repent. Bad things happen when repentance is avoided.

30-44 Feeding of the 5000.

45-52 Jesus walks on water. Normal? Do kingdom people handle the storms of life differently?

56 - “...Wherever He entered villages, or cities, or countryside, they were laying the sick in the market places, and imploring Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak; and as many as touched it were being cured...”

Mark.7

FP 7:6-7 (Is.29:13) Honor with lips, heart far from, doctrines and precepts of men.

8 - “...Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men..." Just being normal.

9 - “...He was also saying to them, "You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition...” What do we set aside?

Which results in? 21,22 - “...For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness...”

24-30 Gentile woman has faith, touches the heart of Jesus, gets deliverance for her daughter.

31-37 Heals a deaf man and again asks that it not be told.

Mark.8

1-9 Feeding of 4000

15 - “...And He was giving orders to them, saying, "Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod..." Religion and Politics.

27-38 Peter hits a high and a low.

Recognizes Jesus as the Christ.

Sets his mind on man’s interests instead of God’s

Mark.9

1-13 Transfiguration - meeting with Moses and Elijah.

14-29 Demon possessed boy.

19 - “...unbelieving generation...”

23 - “...all things are possible to him who believes...”

40 - “...For he who is not against us is for us...”

Matt.12:30 “...He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters...”

42-48 Is it important to not stumble or cause stumbling?

Leads to? “... cast into hell, where Their worm does not die , and the fire is not quenched ...”

Mark.10

1-12 Teaching on marriage and divorce.

13-16 Accepting kingdom as a child.

17-22 Rich young ruler.

Common thread in theses two passages? [Not about OWNERSHIP, but about trust, enthusiasm, and God’s creative purposes]

35-45 Choose sevanthood over position.

Mark.11

1-11 Jesus enters Jerusalem on a donkey.

12-19 Clears the temple [Matt 21:13 House of prayer, Mark House of prayer for all nations, Luke Prayer]

20-26 Prayer points:

22 - “...have faith in God...”

24 “...no doubt ...believe...”

25 “...forgive...”

Mark.12

1-12 Those left in charge of the vineyard have visions of? OWNERSHIP

17 - “...And Jesus said to them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they were amazed at Him...”

24 - “... Jesus said to them, "Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not understand the Scriptures or the power of God?...” What is the source of religious mistakes?

28-34 Understanding the greatest commandment gets you?

34 - “...When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." After that, no one would venture to ask Him any more questions...”

Close to the kingdom

41-44 How was the poor widow smarter than the rich young ruler? “...put in all she owned...” Willing to avoid the trap of OWNERSHIP

Mark.13

1-23 Discussion of end times again starts with “...see to it that no one misleads you...”

10 - “...The gospel must first be preached to all the nations...”

13 - “...You will be hated by all because of My name, but the one who endures to the end, he will be saved...”

24-31 How will the 2nd coming differ from the first? Glory, not baby to sacrificial lamb.

32 - “...But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone...”

33-37 Our Part?

33 - keep on the alert

35 - keep on the alert

37 - keep on the alert

Mark.14

3-9 Woman anoints Jesus with expensive perfume. Life of principles can’t see the value of this in God’s bigger reality.

17-26 Last Supper. Who will betray Christ? “...surely not I...”

27-31 Who will deny Christ?

32-42 Who will watch and pray?

51,52 - “...A young man was following Him, wearing nothing but a linen sheet over his naked body; and they seized* him. But he pulled free of the linen sheet and escaped naked...” Tradition says this person was John Mark (author of this gospel account, not one of the disciples, companion of Paul)

53-65 Jesus before the high priest

54 - Peter warms himself in the enemy camp - be careful where and how you get comfortable.

63,64 Principled living, Poor judgment, Jesus accused of blasphemy.

66-72 Peter’s denial

Mark.15

1-15 Jesus before Pilate

10 - Pilate sees through the religious leader’s smoke screen - they’re driven by envy, not righteousness.

15 - Pilate is driven by? Popularity. Hands Jesus over.

16-24 Mocking, beating, crucifixion.

33-38 Darkness, death, done.

42-46 Burial.

Mark.16

1-8 Empty tomb, He is risen.

9-14 Appears to Mary Maddalene, 2 on the road, 11 reclining at the table.

15-18 Commission?

15 - “...Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation...”

16 - “...He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned...” What is belief? What accompanies belief?

17,18 “...These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover..."

19 - Ascension into heaven to sit at the right hand of God.

Understand to Power of God (Matt.20 - Mark 4)

Mat.20

1-16 Landowner hiring people at different times of the day, but giving same wage. Expectations of fairness.

17-19 Third discussion of upcoming crucifixion.

20-28 Relationship between serving and greatness.

28 - “...the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many..."

34 - Compassion moves Jesus to give blind beggars their sight.

Mat.21

1-11 Entry into Jerusalem.

FP - 21:5 (Is.62:11,Zech.9:9) King coming mounted on a donkey.

12-16 Temple cleared because of perversion of use (from house of prayer to den of robbers).

FP - 21:13 (Is.56:7, Jer.7:11) House of prayer. Den of robbers.

Is there a difference between what people need and what religion offers?

21,22 “...And Jesus answered and said to them, "Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' it will happen. "And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive..." What drives your prayer? Compassion? Belief? Selfishness?

28-32 It’s not what we say, but what we do that matters.

33-41 Are we tending the vineyard and giving the fruit to God?

FP - 21:42 (Ps.118:22) Cornerstone.

43 - “...Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people, producing the fruit of it...”

Mat.22

1-13 Kingdom like a wedding feast.

Inviteees don’t pay attention and are considered unworthy.

Person without proper wedding garment thrown into outer darkness.

Are you invited? Proper attire?

14 - “...For many are called, but few are chosen..." The chosen do it God’s way, not their way, whether vinedressers or wedding guests.

21 - “...render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God's..."

29 - “...But Jesus answered and said to them, "You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God...” Resurrected life will be different - no marriage, like angels. Those who should know, don’t know their scripture.

37-40 “...And He said to him, " 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart , and with all your soul , and with all your mind .' "This is the great and foremost commandment. "The second is like it, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself .' "On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets..."

Mat.23

1-20 Legalism is an attempt to usurp the position of Moses. It ties heavy burdens on people. It self promotes. It doesn’t serve with humility as Moses did.

13 - “...But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in...” Religious people failing themselves and others.

23 - “...Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others...” Need all!

28 - “...So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness...”

33 - “...You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell?...”

37-39 Jesus longs for things to be as God intended.

Mat.24

First comment made by Jesus when questioned about “the end of the age”?

4 - “...And Jesus answered and said to them, "See to it that no one misleads you...”

6-8 The birth pangs: Wars and rumors of wars. Famines and earthquakes.

Fate of disciples: Tribulation, hated, death.

Condition of the world: Betrayal and hate. False prophets misleading. Lawlessness. Love grown cold.

The challenge: 13 - “...But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved...”

The charge: 14 - “...This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come...”

26-33 Jesus return: Like lightning. Coming on the clouds. Great trumpet and gathering. Only the Father knows when.

44 - “...For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will...”

45-51 Importance of being found doing what the master expects.

Mat.25

1-13 Parable of 10 virgins. Lesson? Be alert. Be prepared.

14-30 Parable of Talents. Lesson? Use what you’ve been given for God.

31-46 Final judgment leads to eternal life in kingdom, or eternal punishment. What criteria for judgment? Deeds.

Mat.26

6-12 Woman anoints Jesus.

GP - Kingdom purpose may not always be obvious initially, but principles (money given to poor) need to give way to purpose.

20-30 The Last Supper - body and blood of Christ given for forgiveness of sins.

FP - 26:31 (Zech. 13:7) Sheep will scatter.

32-34 Difference between desire and reality. Peter isn’t the only one who denies Christ.

41 - “...Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak..."

Jesus is arrested, accused, and abused.

Mat.27

FP - 27:9,10 (Zech.11:12,13) 30 pieces of silver, potter’s field.

Trial, mocking, crucified with thieves.

Earth shakes, veil torn.

GI - 27:52,53 “...The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many...."

Laid in a new tomb. Guards posted.

Mat.28

GI - 28:2 “...And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it...”

19 - “...Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,..”

But the sentence goes on...

20 - “...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age..."

MARK

Mark.1

FP 1:2,3 (Mal.3:1) Voice in the the wilderness.

4 - “...John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins...”

8 - Again we’re told that there is something beyond repentance - Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit.

9-11 Father, Son, and Spirit at the baptism.

12,13 Brief description of the temptation - angels ministering to Him. GI How?

14,15 - “...Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel..."

16-20 Four fisherman chose to follow Him. Did they know everything about Him? Did they know what they were getting in to?

21-28 He taught with authority. Unclean spirits recognized His authority.

Are angels and unclean spirits usual?

29-34 Healing and casting out.

35-39 Preaching and casting out.

40-45 Becoming the center of attention impedes the mission.

Mark.2

1-12 Paralytic through the roof. Faith, forgiveness, and freedom. Starts with faith, but beyond forgiveness is the freedom from that which holds people captive.

What types of captivity? Disease, demons, despair.

17 - “...And hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners..." Many called, few chosen (Matt.22:14). Who are the chosen?

27,28 - “...Jesus said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. "So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath..."

Mark.3

1-6 Jesus is angered and grieved at hardness of heart. Pharisees are more concerned with position and preference than the needs of the people. Eyes on system, not on people.

11,12 - “...Whenever the unclean spirits saw Him, they would fall down before Him and shout, "You are the Son of God!" And He earnestly warned them not to tell who He was...”

14,15 Disciples appointed to preach and they have authority to cast out demons.

24 - “...If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand...” Can America stand?

28,29 Unpardonable sin.

Mark.4

Parable of four soils. Road, rocks, thorns, good. Satan, rootless, deceit/distraction.

24 - “...And He was saying to them, "Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides...”

Parables of growing see and mustard seed.

33 - “...With many such parables He was speaking the word to them, so far as they were able to hear it;...”

Storm can’t keep Jesus from fulfilling the call on His life.