And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed. And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all. (Luk 6:17-19 KJV)
Notice that the people came, not only to be healed, but also to “hear him.” The teaching of Christ is like honey to the soul, sweet and strengthening. The words of Christ are the words of God, and as such they are to be feasted on as we gain nourishment from them…
…It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. (Luk 4:4 KJV)
The teaching of Christ is so very important that it is placed before the healings in our passage, as the very first thing that the people came for.
What do we seek first? Do we seek the words and teachings of God as a priority, or do we seek after miraculous manifestations as a priority? If we are seeking God’s power apart from God’s word then we are putting asunder what God has joined together. God’s power is never divorced from His word. Consider that …
A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign… (Mat 16:4 KJV)
May we crave God’s word as an addict craves their next fix. Our soul should be so dependent on God that it’s addicted to Him. And just as an addict not only craves his next fix, but is also controlled by his drug of choice…so we should not only crave God’s word, but we should be controlled by it as the Holy Spirit applies it to our heart. It’s not enough to hear God’s word, it must change us as well.
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; (Eph 5:18 KJV)
The Holy Spirit, working through the Word of God, should control us just as excessive wine controls a drunkard. It’s easy to spot someone who’s drunk because they have certain characteristics that set them apart from the sober. It should be just as easy to spot a Christian because of the characteristics that they have that set them apart from unbelievers. These different characteristics are clearly set forth in Scripture…
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Gal 5:19-25 KJV)
If you find yourself not as fruitful as you should be, make sure God’s Word has the place that it should have in your life – a place of primacy, authority, and reverence.
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