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“Get Up”…“Pick Up”…“Go”...“Stretch Out”...“Walk”

8/25/2015

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You may read the above title and think that this article is about bodily exercise, but actually these words are a few of the many startling statements made by Jesus throughout His earthly ministry.
  • Jesus told a man who had been paralyzed for 38 years, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” (John 5:8, “pick up”, NASB; cf. 5:5-6;)
  • Jesus commanded a man with a withered (shriveled, NIV) hand to “Stretch out your hand.” (Matthew 12:13; cf. 12:10).
  • To the ten lepers who sought to be healed, He said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests” (Luke 17:14). This command was given before they received cleansing. It must have seemed an impossible thing to gain audience with any priest in their current state, yet the Bible says, “And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.” (17:14).
  • In Luke chapter five Jesus encounters a group of professional fisherman (Peter, Andrew, James, and John) who had fished all night, but in spite of their wisdom and experience, had caught nothing (5:5). Jesus said to them, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch” (5:4). The result was an astonishing catch of fish (5:6-9). 
  • A man who had been blind from birth gave testimony that “A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed, and I received sight.”
  • To Lazarus, who had been dead four days, He commanded, “with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come forth!’ And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth.” (John 11:43-44)
In each of these cases, the individual was unable do what Jesus asked of them, or else had already tried and failed in the attempt. Nevertheless Jesus challenged them to act on His command. They each discovered that with Jesus’ help, they were able to accomplish the very thing they “knew” they could not do. One who was paralyzed got up and picked up his bed. Those who were cast out were now going back into society. Those who had failed all night now began the day with the greatest catch of their lives. The one who was blind could now see. Even one who could not conquer death now crossed the great divide into life (cf. Luke 16:26). By themselves these things were impossible! Jesus made the difference. It was His power that made it possible (Matthew 19:26; Mark 9:23).

Some feel like Jesus gives impossible commands today. And perhaps they are impossible under our own power, wisdom, and might. However, the Christian must always remember that it is the power of Christ that makes the difference.  Therefore let us “Get Up” and serve (Mark 1:31),  “Take Up” our cross (Luke 9:23), “Go” into all the world (Mark 16:15-16), “Stretch Out” our hands to those in need (Acts 3:7), and “Walk” worthy of our calling (Ephesians 4:1-3). For it is not by our power alone that we accomplish these things. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). 
 -  Josh Allen (Pikeville, KY)
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But He Lied!

4/13/2015

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1 Kings chapter 13 contains an interesting account concerning an unnamed man of God. This man was faithful to God in many ways: he cried out against the altar by the word of the Lord (13:2), he performed what God had commissioned (13:3), he stood up against King Jeroboam (13:4), and he did not heed the invitation of the king (13:8). At first glance this man was a hero of his time, yet in the end he is attacked by a lion and found lying dead in a ditch. What led to this man’s downfall? The answer is simple: He believed a false prophet! (13:18-19). In this ancient story there are a couple of important lessons for Christians today.

 One preaching the truth will never contradict what God has already said. In this text an old prophet claims an angel had instructed him to minister to the man of God. Even though this conflicted with God’s original instructions (13:21) the man of God gave into the older prophet’s words.  This old prophet is a good example of one Jesus would call a wolf in sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15-16). These wolves still prowl around today, therefore Christians must always strive to go back to the Bible, God’s original instruction. Paul instructed the Galatians, “…even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed” (Gal 1:8-9). Even though the man of God was deceived (the prophet had flat out lied to him) he was still held accountable for his actions. We have instructions from God and like the man of God in the story; we too are accountable unto God.


Always strive to wholly follow God. We must remember that partial obedience is disobedience. The man of God is to be praised for his good start; however, a good start doesn’t mean anything if you do not finish the race. The Lord has said, “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). The promise is to those who persevere! Caleb is an example of a man of God who finished strong. It is said of him, he “wholly followed the Lord” (Joshua 14:8; Deut. 1:36; Num. 32:12). Faithful men and women will seek to finish the race. We must not obey what is convenient or popular, but seek to wholly follow God.


- Josh Allen (Pikeville, KY)
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    Josh Allen has been serving the Main Street congregation since 2010. 

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Main Street Church of Christ
198 Main St. (PO 2747)
Pikeville, Kentucky 41502
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