Summary of the preaching
Sunday, February 19, 2023 – Pastor Billey.
Luke 7
11 Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd.
12 And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her.
13 When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.”
14 Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.”
15 So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother.
16 Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen up among us”; and, “God has visited His people.” 17 And this report about Him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region.
On that day, Jesus himself went to a town called Nain. He himself, the altar of mercy, moved to Nain and approached this widow.
Most of the time we have to approach the throne of mercy in order to be helped. But sometimes Jesus, himself, can come to us through a preaching, a message on the radio, TV, a parent, a spouse, a brother, sister, friend ….
So Jesus can send someone to either cheer you on or to urge you to get back on the right track.
As you listen to the person, know that it is Jesus who is visiting you.
If in your whole life, nobody has ever corrected you, it is not normal if people really love you.
So Jesus approached this widow, who had an only son.
In Israel, when a woman is married, if her husband dies; the inheritance goes to the children. If it is a man who is the eldest, he will receive a double portion of the inheritance.
When this woman has no children, or has no son, then all her possessions including herself will go to the nearest brother of her husband or cousin… as in the story of Ruth in the Bible.
Thus, as a woman in Israel, only if you have sons is your inheritance guaranteed if your husband dies.
Now, the lady in Nain had already lost her husband, since she was a widow, so the inheritance had gone to her son. But now, in turn, his only son also dies…
Certainly, this woman must have been grieving not only for the loss of her son, but for her own life.
*** It is not by chance that Jesus went to Nain,
precisely in this city. He had gone there to help this lady because widows were often abused.
So he had heard the prayers, the cries of this widow. And He arrived on the day of the funeral….
Our God is the God of mercy, let us know that he is not deaf to our sufferings, our cries, the unjust situations that we live…
Mercy is the manifestation of compassion.
Now, the Bible tells us that the Lord was moved with compassion…For the enemy had succeeded in taking away the joy, the peace, the hope of this widow…
Then he touched the coffin that contained the future, the hope of the lady. And by this act, he stopped the march and the progression of the enemy in the life of this lady.
In Israel, you must not touch a dead body, otherwise you will be considered unclean.
But Jesus did not consider all this, He touched the coffin and told the boy to get up.
*** When Jesus, God spoke —- then at that moment, there was total restitution.
He took the child and gave it to the mother. By this act, Jesus took everything that had been stolen, buried…and gave it back to the widow.
Beloved, there are many miracles that happen at the altar of mercy.
Restoration also means restitution of all that the enemy has stolen.
The enemy has stolen our joy, peace, health, home…
No matter how long it takes, no matter how many years you suffer, one intervention by the Lord destroys everything the enemy has done for years.
*** Jesus had not yet died when he raised the widow’s son from the dead.
How much more so, now that he has not only died but risen, will he be able to help us in our needs?
Indeed, Jesus is the resurrection and the life.
The devil has stolen too much from us – John 10:10 – and he continues to steal from us.
The Lord is not happy to see us in misery, suffering, confusion, desolation…
Whenever the Lord is moved with compassion, miracles follow.
As the enemy wanted to bury the life of this woman, he also wants to bury your life.
So what do you decide to do?
Jesus comes to you also through this preaching – saying “come near my throne and practice my presence…”
But our own thoughts can be obstacles… When we reason, we doubt the goodness of God.
This widow of Nain did not object when Jesus stopped the coffin.
We must not miss the miracles that take place at the altar of mercy….
We must go with confidence, assurance and boldness.
You have the ability to control your heart, your thoughts and go to the throne of mercy to be helped.
No one can enter the presence of the Lord and come out the same person.
*** Infinite power awaits us at the altar of mercy Lord.
Indeed, it is written:
Ephesians 1:19-21
19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
*** And for us who believe, this power is manifest every day.
So, every day there is a different experience that you will live in Christ.
At what point? Where?
It is every time you go into his presence, when you approach the altar of mercy and you will have your restitution, your restoration…
Do not take it as a burden to go to the throne of mercy, and do not be discouraged by what is not yet done in your life, but rather look to God, to His ability and cry out to Him with all your heart.
When David cried out to God, he saw the mighty hand of God helping him in a mighty way.
Psalm 18. 5-8
The pangs of death surrounded me,
And the floods of ungodliness made me afraid.5 The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me;
The snares of death confronted me.6 In my distress I called upon the LORD,
And cried out to my God;
He heard my voice from His temple,
And my cry came before Him, even to His ears.7 Then the earth shook and trembled;
The foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken,
Because He was angry.
So beloved, how much more so for you for whom the blood of Jesus has flowed. Know that at the altar of mercy, all your enemies are judged.
Go with the right heart and attitude and you will see; surely the Lord will help you.
And if the Lord revealed the hidden things such as the famine to come to Pharaoh who was a fetishist… how much more so do we who belong to him reveal the hidden things to us?
You must be aware that every time you call upon the Lord, he comes. The Lord said, I will not abandon you, I am with you always.
If you want deliverance, the restitution of what was stolen from you, if you want to see the greatness of God, go to this altar.
And know that every day is a different experience until eternity…
LET US PRAY →
Lord Jesus, I come to you this day,
This is my life,
Many things were stolen from me.
The enemy has taken many things away from me to the point where my life is not the one you planned
But today, I come
Lord Jesus, restore everything that was stolen from me.
My peace, my joy, my relationship with you, my understanding…
Lord help me in the name of Jesus.
I surrender to you, I surrender to you, for you are the resurrection and the life.
Thank you God for your mercy and grace in my life.
In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,
Amen!