WE COME TO JESUS BENT – BUT NOT BROKEN – The Church Of Christ, 15 Grey Street, Warri

Text: Luke13:10-17

By: Josiah Emonena

Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11 And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. 12 But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.” 13 And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. 14 But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd,” There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day.” 15 The Lord then answered him and said, “Hypocrite!* Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? 16 So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound — think of it — for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?” 17 And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him. Luke 13:10-17 NKJV.

THE NARATION

On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues…
And a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years.
She was bent over and could not straighten up at all.
When Jesus saw her… He called her forward and said to her…
Woman… You are set free from your infirmity.
Then he put his hands on her… And immediately she straightened up and praised God.
Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath… The synagogue ruler said to the people..
He faced the people may be to win their support and said …
There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days… Not on the Sabbath.
The Lord answered him… You hypocrites!
Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water?
Then should not this woman… A daughter of Abraham… Whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years… Be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?
When he said this…All his opponents were humiliated…
But the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.
Picture with me this woman in our assembly tonight…
As we are about to sing the first song… This lady comes walking down the aisle to take her place.
We all know her… She’s been on the church’s… Sick list… Prayer list… For eighteen years…. She has osteoporosis…
Her condition has so progressed… That she is bent double.
Her face is looking to the ground…
Our King James says… She… In No wise could lift herself up.
Her infirmity has caused her… embarrassment… has been excluded from groups because her infirmity…
Children innocently giggle when they see her…
Adults pity her…
But none could help.
The doctor’s says…She cannot be healed… Her condition is irreversible…
She is destined to look at the ground wherever she goes… For as long as she goes.
But on this Sabbath… Something unbelievable happened.
Jesus is teaching… He sees her… He has more than pity on her… He has mercy!
Jesus calls her… Saying… Woman you are set free…
As He touched her… she straightened up…. And began to praise God.
She is destined to look at the ground wherever she goes… For as long as she goes.
But on this Sabbath… Something unbelievable happened.
Jesus is teaching… He sees her… He has more than pity on her… He has mercy!
Jesus calls her… Saying… Woman you are set free…
As He touched her… she straightened up…. And began to praise God.
She is destined to look at the ground wherever she goes… For as long as she goes.
But on this Sabbath… Something unbelievable happened.
Jesus is teaching… He sees her… He has more than pity on her… He has mercy!
Jesus calls her… Saying… Woman you are set free…
As He touched her… she straightened up…. And began to praise God.

We learn that Satan is… alive… well… And at work.

This narrative plainly teaches that this woman’s disease was caused by Satan.
Satan is still working in our world today.
He is at the center of all sickness… Be it…
- Spiritual…
- Physical…
- Or Emotional…
Brethren…All… ugly…Hurtful… Harmful… Thoughts and behavior are credited to Satan.
Scripture tells us that He is the god of this world… And he rules it to human hurt!
Listen to these two Scriptures…
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 1 Peter 5:8 NKJV
But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 2 Tim 4:17-18 NKJV
When we put Peter and Paul’s statements together…
We find Satan is indeed active today.
- But God has the power to deliver us…
God is more powerful than Satan.
We should not find this surprising… It was Paul who said… No temptation… No trial…No bending… Has seized you except what is common to man.
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1 Cor 10:13NKJV
Brethren… God wants us to live better lives… Straighter lives…
Here is something else… Even though Satan is behind all suffering… God has the power… And even promises us… That He can take even the bad things that happen to us… And work them out to… Our good…Our benefit…Our betterment.
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Rom 8:28 NKJV
Think of Job…Lost everything… But in the end he was blessed beyond what he lost.
Think of Joseph… Sold into slavery…Falsely accused… Thrown in Jail…
Yet God used this to bless him and his family beyond his wildest imagination.
Our challenge is to understand that…
- Satan is at work in our world…
- But that God promises to deliver us…
We are bent… but not broken.

This Narrative Teaches Patience

This woman had this infirmity for eighteen years… Yet she never gave up.
Can you imagine coming to worship for eighteen years… Yet nothing changed in her condition?
I wonder how many prayers she prayed for deliverance in those eighteen years?
She was bent… But not broken… She never stopped believing.
Indeed…She challenges us to be patient… Amen?
If she got tired and was absent this particular service??
Some brethren missed Sunday service – died and lost car!!
Now…There is no doubt that today’s culture inhibits Biblical patience.
- We have fast foods…Instant noodles…Junk foods…
Brethren…We must be patient… Sometimes We just have to wait!
Remember…We’re living on God’s timetable…
And He never gets in a hurry!!
God promises deliverance… But there are times when He asked us… to wait… Be patient… It is a fruit of the Spirit… A fruit of God living in us.

Good Things Come To Those Who Attend Worship.

This lady kept coming to worship hoping that… A Blessing… A healing… Would come her way.
If this woman was faithful in her worship… She would have been here 935 times looking for a miracle.
On her 936th Sunday her healing came.
What if she had stayed home?…She would have missed her miracle…Missed Her healing… Missed Her blessing.
In this worship service… SHE Met Jesus… She was…
- Encouraged…
- Admonished…
- Edified…
- Enlightened…
- Healed…
- Her faith was strengthened.
- Her relationship with God was confirmed.
Brethren…Can I ask you a question… Did you come here today looking for a blessing?.. Are we here expecting… A blessing?… Even a Miricle?
Brethren…Let me show you something… Somehow… This lady was able to experience pain…Allowing it to move through her… Yet she did not let the pain to possess her.
Most of us today… When we experience such… pain… struggles… Frustration… Or Troubles…
What do we do??
We allow them to possess us to the point that…
- Our faith is compromised…
- We stop walking in the Light…
- Stop worshipping God…
- Stop ministering…
- Stop coming to church activities
Do we know anybody like that… Of course we all do.
Joseph has reasons to complain and grumble….
What good is our faith unless it will carry us through trying times?
Here’s our challenge…
- Can we keep on coming to worship in spite of our struggles?
- Can we keep on being faithful in spite of our frustrations?
- Can we keep on trusting in spite of our troubles?
- Can we keep on coming to church Sunday after Sunday…
In spite of what we are going through… Even if the condition persists for eighteen long years?
Consider these questions?…
Do we come here Sunday after Sunday… Expecting the… sovereign…
OMNIPOTENT… Omnipresent…God to be in our midst?
Do we come here each Sunday looking for… A blessing?… A healing?… A Strengthening… A MIRACLE?
I pray that we do… I Pray we do!!…
This narrative challenges us to check our life perspective.
Saints…What is our world view?…
- Are we looking for the world to solve our problems… With its riches…Things…Pride… Power… Political clout?
- Or are we looking to Jesus for… spiritual… Emotional… Social…Healing?
Do we have a worldly perspective?… Or a heavenly one?
It was John who wrote… 1 John 2:15-17
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. NKJV

We Must Understand That We Are All Bent.

What is keeping us from…really…Really… Enjoying life… And being the people and person God wants us to be?
- Is it the recent loss of a loved one?…We’ve had several in our church family…
- Is it the loss of a job?… A downward career move?…
- Are we on the brink of bankruptcy?…
- Is it a diagnosis that seriously threatens our health?… Even our life?…
- A marriage relationship you cannot break away and like hell on earth…..
- Is it a ruptured relationship in our family or friendship circle?…
- Is it some sin?… The sin that so easily besets us?…
- Is it the fear of growing old?…
- Is it just a fear for the future?… A worry about tomorrow?
- Indeed… We are all broken… Amen?
Whatever it is that is bending you down there is hope if you realized you are bent!

Jesus is the good news for our brokenness.

Jesus saw her… Jesus calls her… Jesus touched her… Heals her.
Listen to me… What He did that day for this broken woman… He’ll do for our brokenness…
- Even though our situation may seem hopeless…
- Even though our condition may appear desperate…
- Even though we’ve done all we can do.
- Here it is Saints…
- If we are a child of Abraham…
- If we are a child of God by faith…
- If God is God… And He is…
- If God be for us… And He is…
- If Christ is with us… And He is..
- If the Holy Spirit is in us… And He is…
- If His… Love… Mercy… Grace…Providence… Are promised… And they are…

Then on any given day… At any given moment…

Our past can be rectified…
Our presence can be justified…
Our future can be glorified…
Our hearts can be purified…
Our souls can be satisfied.

On any given day… At any given moment… We can be saved.

We can know we are heaven bound.

This morning…Our closing verse comes from the pen of Paul… Read it with me … We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed — 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 2 Cor 4:8-11NKJV
And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Rom 5:3-5NKJV

Tonight… Right now… God’s invitation is open…

Jesus sees us…
He is calling us…
And He is ready to heal our sin sickness… forgive and save us.
If you are not a child of God… Then become one by Faith… Repentance…and New Testament Baptism… Immersion in water for the forgiveness of sins.
If we are children of God… Then His invitation is to acknowledge our sins… And He promises us forgiveness.

Indeed… We are all bent… But we do not have to go home broken.

Come to Jesus… As we stand and sing this invitation song together.

CONCLUSION