THE CROOKED WOMAM
Luke 13:11-13
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.
12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.
13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God
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.
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?
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?
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.
As we look at this passage –we see this is the last time we ever hear of Jesus going into a synagogue.
Only Luke records this miracle of healing
Just because it is only mentioned in one of the gospels does not make it any lest important
But as we look at this –I believe we are going to see some spiritual nuggets of gold (truths)
I refer to this woman as the crocked woman not because she was dishonest, but from what we see in v11
The word tells us she was Bowed together, which means she was bent doubled, or hook shaped—some say she had a overture of the spine
The word tells us she had been this way for 18 years
It says that this deformity was due to a spirit of infirmity
V16 says Jesus refers to this an this woman being bound by Satan—
This woman was under the grip of an evil spirit
Hear me -- not all physical ailments are do to demonic activity
Yes all sickness is a result of the fall
John 9:1-3
9 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
But there are those suffering from lung cancer – due to smoking
Cirrhosis of the liver –due to alcohol
Aids – due to ungodly lifestyles
Some sickness we bring upon our selves by our choices we make in life
But this shows us a woman that was suffering not from immorality or choices of her own but because of Satan
Notice this woman had been this way for 18 years
The woman with the issue of blood had suffered for 12 years
The man at the pool of Bethesda was in his condition for 38 years
If you could have talked to them prior to their healings by Christ
If you could have asked them if they felt there was any hope for them In their condition
If you have ask them if they felt they would ever be relieved fro their infirmities
They all would have probably said no
I’m sure because of their prolonged illness –they felt they would live & die in the very condition they were in (long-term)
Let me inject something –there may be those here that have been battling a problem or circumstance – some weeks, months, or even years
Because of the long-term battle that you are in – we can have a tendency to not only accept the problems, but also we can feel that there will never be any hope for the situation –But I’ve come to tell you their is HOPE—That Hope is in JESUS
Give Him Praise
The word tells us that this crocked woman, could not lift here self up
How many time did she wake in the morning & try will all of here strength to raise herself up – But day after day—all she saw were the ground
Think about it
She could not look heaven ward
But all the time looking down
Is this not what Satan is doing to Gods people today?
Looking down will led to discouragement
Depression
Hopelessness
The word says Ps 121:1-2
121 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
It was Satan that was the cause of her condition
Her pain
Her head to be shoved into the ground
But something was about to Change
Child of God I declare to you tonight that regardless of how long you have been struggling with you situation
There is Help & Hope I Jesus
When it looks like all way lost & this is the way is it going to be
In a moment of time—The power of God did what man could not do—
Let me shout it tonight –THERE IS HOPE, AS LONG AS HE LIVES THERE IS HOPE
3 things quickly
1.JESUS SAW HER
12 And when Jesus saw her,
Where was she at when he saw her?
She was In Church –Thing happens In Church
Think of it
Here is this woman with a physical infirmity
A woman who knew the discomforts of everyday life
A woman who could have been easily embarrassed about her condition
A woman who had more than one reason for not going to church
Yet this woman was in the synagogue on the Sabbath day
Despite her condition, pain, discomfort
I have to admit –I am amazed as some of the excuses we come up with for not going to the house of God
Illus in the Winter – the first snow flaked
Jr. has a runny nose
It pretty out, it’s my only day off – I want to spend family time
Illus the slightest pain – Some just can’t go
Illus my wife—tears she refused to stay home
This woman had a reason not to go
But we find her going to the house of God
Some commentaries say she went out of faithfulness
Others say she went because Jesus was there
Regardless of the reason – Both are good reason for coming to church
Imagine coming to church just because you love Jesus
Just because you want to meet with Him
Not because you teach, sing, play an instrument, sing in the choir,
Not to see or be seen – not to shake the preachers hand
But you come because you Just Love God
If we come for any other reason—we come for the wrong reason
Jesus saw Her
Illus being preoccupied
People seeing you, but you not seeing them
We have things on our minds, we overlook people
Our God is not that way
For the God we serve is one who is
OMNINPOENT – ALL POWER
OMNIPRESENT – EV ERYWERE
OMNISCIENT – ALL KNOWLEDGE—INFINITE AWARNESS
Not only did Jesus see this woman -- but He knew she was going to be there before she got there—Before she stepped on foot inside the synagogue—he knew her condition
Remember the story of Phillip & Nathaniel
John 1:45-48
45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.
Matt 6:8
for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
Church I want to remind you – He sees you –
He is aware of what your going through
He see the pain, the scars
He’s never taken his eyes off of you
Though there were many that day in that place –He saw Her!!!
Not only did he see He
2. HE CALLED HER
It says HE CALLED HER TO HIM
Illus—Jesus calling (not in a weak, timid, embarrassed voice)
People said of Him –When he taught or speak – of one having authority
Illus –Woman –come to me
Illist –Her trying to see Him
He calling you today –Come- not to a preacher, not an evangelist, not to a person of great wealth or education
But Come to Jesus
Matt 11:28
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
In a world that is selfish & self centered we still serve a compassionate Christ
The Word tells us:
Heb 4:15-16
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Notice with the call of Christ come a question
And with the question comes a decision
He called her – But she had to decide to respond
What if I go to him & he embarrasses me
What will people think?
She could have chosen not to respond to his call & she would have left & died a crocked woman
How many people go on in their sin, brokenness, messed up lives?
They here the Lord calling them
Illus-- an altar call
Think of what so many miss.
So many are like the rich young ruler
Because of his wealth, refusing to let go of the world He left miserable
He missed the healing, dead raised, the empty tomb, the day of pent.
All because he chose not to answer the call
Jesus see you,
Jesus is calling you—just like you are –she came just as she was bound & shackled l-BUT HE HAD THE KEY!!!!
He saw her
He called her
3. HE TOUCHED HER
12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.
13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God
The moment Jesus spoke healing -- The Hold of Satan was broken
Notice—Not only did he speak healing –but he touched her
How many know his word is enough
He did not have to touch her
Some believe he did simply as an added encouragement
He doesn’t have to touch us –but I’m so glad he does
Illus Him reaching down & lifting her up
She may have crawled I – but she is walking home straight
You say –well that was then--- but what about now
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.
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?
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?
Hang on This is shouting ground
Gal 3:26-29
26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Notice
Abraham’s seed—received a promise
Healing is for us today – we to are Abrahams see because of Christ
What Satan has bound – Christ has freed
1 John 3:8
For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
Illus Easter –is more that Jesus is alive –it also means Satan is defeated!!!
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.
She left glorifying god
Imagine going Home – getting into bed straight
Getting up the next day
Not just here but other left as well glorifying God
Whether people be crooked physically, morally, or spiritually, they can be made straight by the word of the Lord & by the touch of the master
For the Bible says Jesus is the same yesterday, today, & forever Heb. 13:8
John Hagee quotes the following:
"Sooner or later you are going to need a miracle.
Many of today’s churches tend to forget that our God is a miracle working God!
Miracles did not stop occurring in Biblical times. They are not reserved just for the Old Testament.
Think of all the miraculous things the Lord has done.
• He breathed into a handful of dirt and created man
• He parted the Red Sea
• He rained manna from the heavens
• He muzzled the mouths of lions for Daniel
• He healed the lame, deaf and blind
• He resurrected the dead...
Jesus said to His church, "Greater things than these shall you do!" The season for miracles is not over!
The Bible says that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever!
What happened 2000 years ago can happen today. The Word of God says, "These signs shall follow them that believe, in my name they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover."
The living Word of God does not change nor does it return void.
• You are what His Word says you are
• You can do what His Word says you can do
• You can have what His Word says you can have
It says that "NOTHING is impossible with God!"
People sell themselves short by not expecting miracles.
Many think that because they may not fully understand miracles, they will never experience one.
Do you understand how electricity works?
I cant explain what makes it work, yet none of us hesitate to flip the switch on our wall everyday. We can either "flip the switch" or sit in darkness. If you need a miracle then it is time to flip the switch- have faith in God!
No matter what you face, nothing is either too great or too small for God to handle.
"Is any sick among you, let him call the elders of the church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord Jesus, and the prayer of faith shall save the sick and the Lord Himself shall raise him up and if he have committed any sin they shall be forgiven him."
(James 5:14)
This is God’s prescription for disease. This is God’s plan.
His presence has never left the earth, and His love has never been removed. His power to heal, save, to deliver, and to set the captive free has never been diminished. He is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Do you need to be healed? Do you need a miracle?
That day Jesus gave here a different look
Today he wants to do the same for you!
Disclaimer:
These sermons are not copyrighted and may be used or preached freely, I trust these sermons will be a blessing to all who read them. Please note that due to the large amount of material on the Internet concerning sermons, illustrations & ideals. Any similarities in wording, or titles of other preachers sermons are simply coincidental. May God Bless You is my Prayer!
