Daily Treasure

“And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed; and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things there were done by him”  (Luke 13:17).

After Jesus put a Jewish leader in his place, his enemies were put to shame. Then the people rejoiced.  It all started with the healing of “Miss Liberty.” Consider the following words from our study writer:
“What about you and the ones you love?  Are there physical or emotional disabilities that weigh you down, leaving you discouraged and frustrated and dreading the future?  Your load may not be as obvious as Liberty’s, but you find it hard to look up from under the weight.  You have tried to pull yourself out of it and raise yourself up, but still you are bent over. What do you do? Every situation is different, so there are no simplistic answers.  But the starting place is always the same.  Bring it to Jesus.”

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for potential writers of next year’s Treasure Bible studies. Ask God to supply volunteers who would seek God’s direction in effectively communicating His Word in creative ways.

“The Lord than answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?  And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?”  (Luke 13:15-16).
With these words, Jesus obviously made a Jewish leader mad. It wasn’t the first or last time He had a run-in with the “law.” However, Jesus’ mission was not to keep people in bondage to the Law, but to set the captive free.  Did it really matter He chose to work miracles on the Sabbath?

Minister Russell Smith mentions in his sermon: “Jesus has shown his authority over Satan by casting out demons, and now he shows his authority by refuting the teachers of the Law.”

Jesus had the power to free those in spiritual bondage or in bondage to the law.  He was never afraid to use it—even on the Sabbath.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for the ministry of Voice of the Martyrs, an organization that keeps Christians abreast of volatile situations and ongoing persecution of believers throughout the world.

“And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God” (Luke 13:13).

Let’s look at today’s verse, making some more observations about our “Miss Liberty.”  A minister named Russell Smith shares these points about her. He mentions first her “spirit of infirmity.”

“Luke is subtly telling us that this woman had much more than a physical problem.  In this case, the pain of her condition was caused by an evil spirit. Please note this is not demon possession….Rather, this is more like the torment that Job endured when Satan afflicted his body….The woman (Miss Liberty) doesn’t draw attention to herself, crying out, ‘Lord Jesus, have mercy on me.’ No.  Jesus notices her, Jesus calls out to her. Jesus frees from her bondage.”

Jesus first used words, then He placed His hands upon her. She straightened up and “glorified God.”
Later in Smith’s sermon he says,  “She has an identity that is greater than her burdens—it’s the identity that gave her hope those eighteen years of suffering, and that was the identity of being a child of her Father, the identity of being special to God….”

With the touch of the Master’s Hand, she was truly now “Miss Liberty.”

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for any in your congregation who suffer from arthritis, MS, fibromyalgia, or another debilitating disease.

“And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself” (Luke 13:11).

I like how Matthew Henry describes “Miss Liberty.” First of all, “she had an infirmity, which an evil spirit, by divine permission, had brought upon her, which was such that she was bowed together by strong convulsions, and could in no wise lift up herself; and having been so long thus, the disease was incurable; she could not stand erect, which is reckoned man’s honour above the beasts.  Observe. Though she was under this infirmity by which she was much deformed, and made to look mean, and not only so, but as is supposed, motion was very painful to her, yet she went to the synagogue on the sabbath day.” Our study writer also gives us some good insights about her in the introduction of week one of our study.
One thing about “Miss Liberty” that really impresses me.  In spite of her physical limitations, you could find her worshipping in her “church” on the sabbath. She might have had feelings of frustration and helplessness, but, “Miss Liberty” understood the necessity of “take your burden to the Lord, and leave it there.”

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for all who participated in the Home Missions Heritage Tour this past weekend. Pray that God would give each a greater burden for this region of our nation and these key locations within Free Will Baptist history.

“And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.” (Luke 13:10)

I love the WNAC theme for the coming year, “He Knows My Name.”  Within our fall studies we will see people who were healed by Jesus.  We seldom find their names mentioned.  We might even  be tempted to overlook them. Jesus did not.  Matthew 4:23 gives a description of Jesus’ministry.  It was one of teaching, preaching and, yes, healing.  It should be no surprise where Jesus was found on the sabbath day.  We are going to see every facet of His ministry as we share verses from Luke 13:10-17. Today sets the stage for an upcoming miracle.
The NIV Study Bible states “Jesus, like Paul, took advantage of the custom that allowed visiting teachers to participate in the worship service by invitation of  the synagogue leaders.”  Matthew Henry makes these comments: “He (Christ) was in his element when he was teaching. Now to confirm the doctrine he preached, and recommend it as faithful, and well worthy of acceptation, he wrought a miracle, a miracle of mercy.”  The person involved in that miracle is a nameless crippled woman who was faithful to be in the synagogue on the sabbath.    Tomorrow we will learn more about this woman.
Jesus knew her given name. Our study writer calls her “Miss Liberty.”

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Praise God that Patrick and Jill obtained their visas to work alongside Shane and Joy in ministry to North Africans living in Europe.

“My heart is confident in you, O God; no wonder I can sing your praises!” (Psalm 57:7 NLT).

Confidence is certainty.  It’s a placing of absolute belief.  Wholehearted trust. If our confidence is in anyone, or anything, other than God, we’re setting ourselves up for a heartbreak.

No one else is perfect.
No one else is unchanging.
No one else is capable of the love, mercy, grace and forgiveness needed to love us in a way that can cause us to sing their praises.

You know it’s true.  Especially those of you who have been hurt or let down.  Those of you whose hopes, dreams and futures were placed securely in the hands of another.  Those of you who have awakened to a nighmare brought on by life.

He is worthy of our praise because He alone is our confidence. We can safely and surely place our trust in God.

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for believers who are struggling with trust issues. Pray that they might find assurance in God’s faithfulness and rebuild trust as they learn to trust in Him.

“Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  To him be glory both now and forever. Amen” (2 Peter 3:17-18).

Let’s conclude this month of study with these final thoughts from William Barclay about today’s verses. “As far as you are concerned, beloved, you have been forewarned (false teachers are coming). You must, therefore, be on your guard not to be carried away by the error of lawless men and so to fall from your own foundation; rather, you must see to it that you grow in grace and in understanding of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  To him be glory both now and to the day of eternity.”

Peter stresses the importance of growing in grace.  It starts with faith in God and ends with love for others and a lively hope for Heaven.  All this growing happens as we know more and more about God and His Word.   If you feel something has stunted your Christian growth, it’s time to get back to the basics.  The pathway for doing this is as simple as a familiar childrens’ chorus.

Read your Bible, pray every day, pray every day,
pray every day (make book, prayer hands)
.
Read your Bible, pray every day,
then you’ll grow, grow, grow (bend down and get taller)
.
Then you’ll grow, grow, grow, then you’ll grow, grow, grow.

Read your Bible, pray every day, then you’ll grow, grow, grow.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for faithfulness in church attendance.  Ask God to bring His people together in worship and praise, wherever they are during this holiday weekend.