The Spirit of Infirmity
Introduction – Luke 13:10-17
This passage can be interpreted three ways:
1) The Proper Interpretation
2) The Prophetic Interpretation
3) The Personal Interpretation
I. The Proper Interpretation
By the proper interpretation I am referring to what really happened in this story. I want to take the text as it stands and see what God has for us.
(A) The Miserable Woman (v.11)
In this short story we find a woman with a “spirit of infirmity”, which literally means ‘to be in want of strength’. She had a weakness whereby she was unable to do anything (i.e. like normal people could). The Bible also reveals that because of her condition she was “bent over”. In other words, she could not stand up straight because the bones of her spine were fused together into a rigid mass. The fact that she “could not…raise” herself up speaks of her utter helplessness and utter hopelessness. She was of no use to anyone. And the sad part about this story was that she was like this for “eighteen years”.
The only highlight as far as she was concerned was that “she was found in the synagogue”. What a powerful testimony. She did not consider her situation as a complete hindrance. Despite her circumstances she was still able to worship God. How often do we stay away from the house of the Lord because of a minor ailment? Despite bodily infirmities, they should not keep us from worshipping God.
(B) The Merciful Saviour (vv.12-13)
This short story is also a wonderful revelation of mercy and grace. For everything that was going on in the life of Jesus the Bible records the fact that “Jesus saw her”. This is mercy and grace at its best. Have you ever noticed that every time Jesus is in a crowd he looks for those in need? Jesus knows and cares about our needs. Jesus sees us amidst the hustle and bustle of life. But not only did he see the poor woman, the story continues when “Jesus called her”. Again, this is mercy and grace at its best. Jesus took the initiative. The woman did not come seeking a cure (i.e. Jesus was teaching in the synagogue). We then read that “the woman obeyed”. Despite her circumstances (again!), she was able to respond to the command of Jesus. Too many times when we are laid aside with physical ailments, self-pity will cause us to be deaf to that still small voice seeking to encourage us. What happened next was that “she came to Jesus”. She came not seeking a cure, but perhaps to receive some kind of teaching from Jesus, who was
teaching in the synagogue at the time. But, instead of receiving a word from Jesus she found relief from her infirmity. It has been said that those who seek the care of their soul will find that it will benefit their body.
(C) The Miraculous Cure (V.13)
The cure that the woman received for her infirmity is described in a number of ways. First, it was “immediate”. Jesus spoke but a word and it was done. Second, it was “complete”. She was completely delivered from her ailment. Third, it was “miraculous” She that was crooked was made straight. She experienced a radical change in her life. After her miraculous cure the Bible records for us that she “glorified God”. This was her immediate response to her cure. She recognized the divine power that Jesus had and praised God for it.
This is a beautiful picture of a sin-bound sinner who can be delivered by the saving power of Jesus. (see Psalm 40:2-3).
II. The Prophetic Interpretation
Let us interpret the woman in this short story as the Church, the Bride of Christ. Therefore, the question we need to ask ourselves is this: “In today’s church what kind of infirmities are within that prevent the Church from being useful to God?” “Is there anything in the Church that causes her to be ‘bent over’ so that it becomes helpless?”
Revelation 3:14-22
Within the church of Laodicea, as recorded in the book of Revelation, there were a number of ‘infirmities’ which gripped the church and caused it to be of no use to God.
(A) Lukewarmness – vv.15-16
Laodicea was a true success story. It was a city famous for its wealth, its clothing industry, and its eye powder. This contributed to the prevalent attitude that the people of this city could cope with life quite well by itself. Unfortuneately, it is this same attitude that filtered over into the church.
Rather than being hot or cold, the church was ‘bent over’ with lukewarmness. What was the result? She experienced absolute and total rejection. The word ‘hot’, (Gk.zestos), means more than hot, it refers to boiling point (i.e. our English word ‘zest’). Laodicea was a church that had no zest for the Lord. There can be no real Christianity without enthusiasm. We often settle for the mediocre, the normal, but Christianity demands that we love our enemies, give to the poor and pray for those who insult us. Yet, so often we settle for that which is comfortable, afraid to venture out beyond our comfort zones. The Bible describes for us 3 Spiritual States.
1) Those with a burning heart who are on fire for God (cf: Luke 24:32).
2) Those with a cold heart (cf: Matthew 24:12).
3) Those with a lukewarm heart (Revelation 3:16).
And it was this last state of the church that caused it to be of no use to God, just like the woman in our story. The Lukewarm Church is the church that is indifferent to the things of God. It is the church that is indifferent to the gospel. It is the church that tolerates sin.
The actions and attitudes of this church fall short of a true testimony for Christ. There is no room for neutrality, no room for borderline Christians. A Christian person is either for God or against God. He has either declared himself for Christ, or declared himself against Christ. God says, “I would prefer it if you were either hot or cold”. In other words, there is more hope for one who has been untouched by the gospel and who makes no pretense of putting their trust in Christ (i.e. they can still come under the sound of the gospel and be saved), than the one who makes some kind of profession of faith, but by their life show that they have not really honoured Christ. With ‘hot’ Christians God could rejoice with them. With cold Christians God wouldn’t have expected anything from them. The lukewarm Church was a comfortable church. The lukewarm church was a complacent church. The lukewarm church was a church that did not realize her need. The lukewarm church was a church that brought rejection from Christ. The lukewarm church was a church that was of no use to Christ (i.e. “spue thee out”). And the result of all this is that we end up with a kind of ‘churchianity’ with a church that has no real commitment, a church that is ‘bent over’ and of no use to God.
(B) Riches – vv.17-18
Another infirmity that caused the church to be of no use to God was an increase in riches.
When material wealth is placed above spiritual realities the church becomes ‘bent over’.
This was a church where their spiritual condition was the exact opposite of their material position. Materially, they lacked nothing but it blinded them to their need of spiritual things. It was a church that began to measure their ministry by human standards instead of by spiritual values. They got what they wanted, but they lost what they needed. And the result was that they became “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked”. The term “naked” is a serious indictment upon the church at Laodicea because Laodicea was the greatest clothing manufacturing city in its day. They thought that they “had need of nothing” but, the Scriptures make it clear that “without me you can do nothing”. Many churches are like the Laodicean church. They have lost their:
1) vigour – “neither cold nor hot”
2) values – “increased with material wealth”
3) vision – “naked”
(W. Weirsbe, Be Victorious, Victor Books, 1986).
Laodicia was a church that was humiliated and defeated because she misplaced her focus upon increased wealth. Today’s Church is just like the woman in our story. The church can sometimes be “bent over” and cannot raise herself up because of various ‘infirmities’ that take away her zeal and witness. There is no power in the church because the church is content to sit back and let things be, instead of being doers of the Word.
But, there is hope for the church! Remember in our story when Jesus said, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity” (Luke 13:12b). This same truth is revealed for us concerning the Laodicean church in Revelation 3:19 – “As many as I love I rebuke and chasten”. Jesus will call his church back to himself and save it from ruin. That is why we read in Ephesians 5:26-27 what Jesus did and will do. Revelation 3:20 also reveals what Jesus is doing now. And it is here that once again Jesus is taking the initiative. But, do you remember Holman Hunt’s famous picture of Christ standing at the door knocking? The famous painting reveals that there is no latch on the door because the latch is on the inside. Like the woman in the story, we too have to respond to the call of Christ to repent and seek to serve him.
III. The Personal Interpretation
Let us interpret this woman with a spirit of infirmity as us, you and me, personally. What kind of infirmities cause us to be ‘bent over’ and consequently we become of no use to God?
(A) Grumbling and murmuring.
How often do we have a winge about another person in the fellowship? The children of Israel are a classic example of people who were constant grumblers. As they traveled through the wilderness they constantly complained about one thing or another:
1) the leadership (Ex. 16:2)
2) the lack of food and water (Ex.15:24)
3) the rough terrain (Ex. 14:11)
A certain monastery enforced a vow of silence. Each monk could utter only two words every five years, and those two words had to be spoken in front of the Abbot. One of
the monks, when given his opportunity to speak, said, “Bad food”. Five years later, his two words were, “Hard bed”. When given his third opportunity to speak five years later,
he said, “I quit”. “Well”, said the Abbot, “you might as well quit. All you’ve done since you got here is complain!”
Grumbling takes our eyes off God and it will cause us to be of no use to God. The Word of God declares that we are to “Do all things without murmurings and disputings”
(Philippians 2:14). Complaining does two things:
1) it demonstrates a lack of gratitude for past blessings.
2) it demonstrates a lack of confidence in God’s wisdom, will and ways.
(B) Criticism.
Are we critical of others? Or do we encourage others? How do we handle criticism?
One of the greatest areas that can cause us to be of no use to God is when we have a critical heart toward one another. Not only a critical heart but also we are of no use to god when we cannot handle receiving criticism.
One of Aesop’s fables tells of an old man and his son bringing a donkey to market. Passing some people on the way, they hear one remark, “Look at that silly pair – walking when they could be riding comfortably.” The idea seemed sensible to the old man, so he and the boy mounted the donkey and continued on their way. Soon they passed another group. “Look at that lazy pair,” said a voice, “breaking the back of that poor donkey, tiring him so that no one will buy him.” The old man slid off, but soon they heard another criticism from a passerby, “What a terrible thing, this old man walking while the boy gets to ride.” The pair changed places, but soon heard people whispering, “What a terrible thing, this big strong man riding and making the little boy walk.” The old man and the boy pondered the situation and finally continued their journey in yet another matter, carrying the donkey on a pole between them. As they crossed the bridge, the donkey broke loose, fell into the river, and drowned. Aesop’s moral: You can’t please everybody.
If we are critical or cannot handle receiving criticism, it will cause us to be of no use to God.
(C) Selfishness.
Our self-centered attitudes and actions can also cause us to be of no use to God.
Compare Philippians 1:21 with 2:21. In the former verse Paul declares his faithful and unselfish attitude towards the Lord and others. In the latter verse Paul describes those who lived their lives on the “cafeteria plan” – self service only!
(D) Laziness.
Somebody once observed that “some people stand on the promises; others just sit on the
premises”. Laziness can definitely cause us to be ‘bent over’ and be of no use to God. Jesus said, “Occupy until I come”, and this means that we are to about the Father’s business. We have been saved for a purpose and that purpose is to glorify God and one of the ways we do that is to serve him.
“What’s Your Involvement?”
There were four neighbours. Fred Somebody. Thomas Everybody. Pete Anybody. Joe Nobody. They all belonged to the same church. But they were odd people and
difficult to understand. And although they went to the same church, you couldn’t have enjoyed worshipping with them. Everybody went fishing on Sunday, or
stayed home to visit friends. Anybody wanted to worship but was afraid Somebody wouldn’t speak to him, so Nobody went to church. Nobody was the only decent person out of the four. Nobody did the visitation. Nobody worked on the church building. Once they needed a Sunday school teacher. Everybody thought Anybody would do it. And Somebody thought Everybody would do
teach. Guess who did it? That’s right…Nobody! It also happened that an unbeliever moved into the neighbourhood. Everybody thought Somebody would
win him to Christ. Anybody could have at least made an effort. Guess who finally won him to Christ…Nobody!
Laziness can be a big hindrance in our usefulness for God.
It is interesting to note that in our story of this woman she was “bent over” for “Eighteen Years” (Luke 13:11). Sometimes the Lord will let us go, until we come to the end of ourselves. So much time is wasted if this is the case. We need to recognize these infirmities that hinder our Christian lives, and bring them to the Lord for deliverance.
Remember his words to the woman, “You are loosed”. Jesus has the power to ‘loose’ us from our infirmity, whatever that may be. Jesus is the only hope we have of being set free.
2 Timothy 4:18
“The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen”
Do you have any infirmities?
Are you being hindered in your service for the Lord?
1) there is hope!
2) there is deliverance!
3) Jesus is merciful!
