New Focus Church

Luk 13:10 And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.

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

Luk 13:12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.

Luk 13:13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

Luk 13:14 And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.

Luk 13:15 The Lord then 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?

Luk 13:16 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?

Luk 13:17 And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.

Righteousness is a free gift from God. Righteousness is imputed to sinners for their justification and imparted in the new creation. Jesus Christ is the Lord our righteousness and all who are in Him are pure and perfect in the new man as He is pure and perfect in us.

Luk 13:6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.

Luk 13:7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?

Luk 13:8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:

Luk 13:9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

Paul was single-minded. He made it his determined approach to speak as becomes a servant of Jesus Christ, to speak as becomes an ambassador of God in a foreign land, to speak as Christ’s mouthpiece, as Christ’s tongue on this earth.

Luk 13:1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

Luk 13:2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?

Luk 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Luk 13:4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?

Luk 13:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Good works are the fruit of conversion, not the means. Abraham and Rahab acted as they did because they trusted the Lord. The Spirit of God within them motivated their works, their worship and their service.

Luk 12:54 And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.

Luk 12:55 And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.

Luk 12:56 Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?

Luk 12:57 Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?

Luk 12:58 When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.

Luk 12:59 I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.

The beauty of James’ practical emphasis again comes to the fore. True good works before God are works of faith, done for the glory of God, in love for the brethren and generally to care for those in need.

Luk 12:49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?

Luk 12:50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!

Luk 12:51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:

Luk 12:52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.

Luk 12:53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

Has Jesus made you free?

Then you are free indeed;

Ye sons of liberty,

Ye chosen royal seed,

Walk worthy of your Lord, and view

Your glorious Head, in all you do.

William Gadsby