DOING WHAT HE SAYS

Luke 6:8,10 But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had a withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth. And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth your hand. And he did so, and his hand was restored whole as the other.

One of the biggest keys of this scripture is that Jesus gave this man different things to do; and because the man did them, he received. Many times, when we are needing something from the Lord, there will be steps and strategies to get us to the answer; it is not always instantaneous.

Remember Jesus’ first miracle when He turned water into wine? Mary, the mother of Jesus, said, “Whatever He says to you, do it!” That was the key to the miraculous. Jesus gave them specific things to do. He said, “Fill the water pots, draw some water out, and take it to the guy in charge of this wedding reception”; and as they obeyed, when the guy in charge drank the wine, he said it was the best wine. The water didn’t turn into wine until they did all the things Jesus said to do.

Here the same thing is happening to the man with the withered hand.

Jesus first told the guy to stand up. What if the man thought, “I am not standing up; who is this guy?” But because the man with the withered hand obeyed, the need of the hand being healed was over. Whatever He tells you to do, do it!

Where do we get what He tells us to do? First, from the written Word of God. You have to start there. Next, He will speak to your heart. He will lead you, guide you, give you unctions, prompt you to do this or to do that. When we obey those leadings, we are on our way to our need being met, on our way to a miracle.

The next things Jesus said to do were come up front, then to stand, and then to come stand in the midst, to get right up where everyone could see him, especially all those religious people who didn’t want anyone healed on the Sabbath. The next step had to be obeyed.

Sometimes, this is where we get in God’s way, thinking we have it already figured out how God could, should, and will do it. What does me getting up and then coming up front have to do with my withered hand?

Even Naaman in the Old Testament, when the prophet said, “Go dip in the River Jordan seven times and you will be restored from your leprosy,” became furious, which revealed what a lot of us are thinking. He said, “I thought he would come out in some big show and do this so that I would be healed.”

Thank God someone with some sense was around him and said, “If the Lord had asked you to do something hard, would you have done it?” So, Naaman did exactly what the prophet said and was healed.

Just obey everything He says. Be like Peter, “Nevertheless at your word, I will let down my net.” Get out of your head and trust you know His voice.

The last thing Jesus said was the hardest mentally. He said to do something the guy couldn’t do. His hand was withered, not functional; how do you do something you can’t do? You just do it anyway!

When the guy did, the power came, and his hand was instantly healed. What has He told you to do that you said, “I can’t,” so you didn’t, and now you don’t have your miracle, your provision, or your answer?

Whatever He says, DO IT!