Jesus Heals A Woman With A Disabling Spirit
Jesus was visiting a synagogue on the Sabbath when he saw a woman who had been crippled and bent over for 18 years.
And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. Luke 13:12-13
We know from scripture that the devil and his evil cronies are instruments of God and He can use them in any way he pleases. Sometimes He allows the enemy to touch us and give us an infirmary as a test of our faith. Even in her condition, she knew it was right to be in the synagogue on the Sabbath to worship God. She had made a good choice that day since she was there when Jesus came in. What was enlightening about this situation was that the ruler of the synagogue wasn’t impressed by the healing 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.” Jesus tore into this man and reminded him that even on the Sabbath, men will lead their ox out of the stall to get water. A mere touch and command was considered work.
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? Luke 13:16
Jesus shamed his adversaries, and the people rejoiced.
The religious spirit that was upon his adversaries and the ruler of the synagogue is alive and well in the churches of today, causing many to stick to rules rather than comfort the people God has given them to care for. I watched a man crumple under the weight of his adversaries, who were supposed to be his disciples and future leaders of the church, turn on him in a time of crisis, and rather than console him and try to comfort him, they chose vague rules to chastise him and demand that he step down. That is the religious spirit at work! That congregation is so much more peaceful and better off without such people. If you agree with harsh rulers, you might be the one with the religious spirit. Repent and turn from your wicked ways if this rings true for you. Those of us who love people will console others at their weakest moments rather than add to their misery. We must adhere to the greatest rule: love God and love people.
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