Emmanuel330: February 2014

Today's Reading: Matthew 9:1-8

**For a simple and good way of Daily Devotion method please click this link: Subject Shifting Devotion.pdf.

Please click this link to Matthew 9:1-8

English(ESV): http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew 9&version=NIV
Chinese: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew 9&version=CUV

Bible Study

We see how the new force taking over the evil force in yesterday's passage. Today, we see the new power giving freedom to a man who could not walk because of his sins. What? Our sins can make us unable to walk? Yes, surely. And, it always happens!

Bishop N.T. Wright says (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N._T._Wright):

Jesus has authority. You can't miss it. Authority in his teaching. Authority over diseases at a distance. Authority over the storm, over the demons. Now, authority to do what normally only God does: to put away sins, to change a person's life from the inside out, to free them from whatever was gripping them so tightly that they couldn't move...

This paralysis was the sort where what we would call psychological forces had reduced the body to immovability. The man had done something - perhaps many things - of which he was deeply ashamed. He was in over his head, as we say, and saw no way out. He not only felt guilty; he was guilty, and he knew it. And gradually this gnawing sense of guilt stopped him doing things. then it stopped him moving his body altogether.

N.T. Wright. Matthew for Everyone, Part 1. Louisville,KY:Westminster John Knox Press, 2004, p.96,97.

Not only was his sins being forgiven and he could walk again. He was being resurrected! Why? Because in this passage Matthew uses three times the language used in connection with resurrection.

Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up.

Matthew 9:25

Jesus took her by the hand and said to her, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!" Immediately the girl stood up and walked around.

Mark 5: 41

The Jesus went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!" The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.

Luke 7:14-15

'Get up! Walk!" What does it means to you today? What Jesus is trying to tell you now?

Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage of scripture we have just read. Offer this time up to Jesus as you listen to him, while listening to "Gabriel's Oboe"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmax47l2hLU

Spiritual Journal

The topic I received from Jesus today is :

New power: Get up! Walk!

What I got from Jesus today are two practical messages:
1. We need to get up and walk
This is for those who are stuck by their own guilt and sins that they can hardly doing anything physically or spiritually. They think that they are just lazy, unable to wake up to go to church, to small group, to have daily devotion, to be close to Jesus. No! No! Just ten minutes to be with Jesus and that is too much? No! They are paralysed! Get up! Walk!

2. We need to have the courage to exercise this new power to command and help people to get up and walk
You may think that you do not have this kind of power. No! No! This is not your power. This power can be given by Jesus to you or when you are closer and closer to Jesus, He can exercise His power through you. What is the difference? We don't need to analysis. It's just that you are more closer to Jesus and that He can uses you to give freedom, to resurrect some people through your willingness and faithfulness.

Get up! Walk!
Let's receive this new power from Jesus today!

Dear Lord Jesus,

Lead us to have faith to receive this new power from you that we can help more people to get up and walk. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Questions for group discussion

New Power: Get Up! Walk!

新的權能: 起身! 行啦!

Passage: Matthew 9:1-8

Questions for group leaders

1. Read Matthew 9:1-8 again now. Do you think our sin could make us unable to walk? Why? Have you seen that happened? How?

2. Are you experiencing any kind of "paralysis" that prevents you from getting up and walking?

3. 'Get up! Walk!" What does it means to you today? One step is enough, what could that be?

4. How can you receive the courage to exercise this new power in the name of Jesus to command and help people to get up and walk? Do you think you can do that? Why not?

5. What is your highlight in today’s session?

Please click this link to worship with us: