Attention Getter

It’s difficult to communicate with people who are not paying attention. 

_________________ 

John 5:14 – Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.

_______________ 

In the Navy, it might be called “a shot across the bow.”  An older Army term might be “firing a range finder,” or a warning shot.  What I am speaking about is “an attention getter;” something that brings one to an awareness of very near possibilities.  For Jesus, this would often take the form of healing for someone.  Once a healing had taken place, once a miracle had been performed, He usually had the undivided attention of at least SOME of the people, and usually MANY people.  Though people of first century Jerusalem were much like people of today, one element touching people of our hour is different.  Jesus ministered as a prophet under the law of Moses.  But today, it’s different; much different, and SO MUCH better.  We now minister as “able ministers” under the New Covenant.  The Old Covenant has now been fulfilled, and we minister, not as a Moses or Elijah, but as the redeemed of the Lord, new creatures in Christ Jesus, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.  And Jesus said, “the least in the kingdom of God” is greater than John Baptist, and it was this John that Jesus called the greatest prophet ever born of woman.  That puts you and me in a highly esteemed and divinely empowered class of ministers of the New Covenant.  Think of that!

So if anyone should be able to attract the attention of people long enough to see them healed and delivered, it should be the New Testament church of today.  Now once again I call to your attention the manner in which Jesus dealt with the man He healed at the pool of Bethesda.  There was such a crowd at the pool, in order to not create a great turmoil, Jesus, once He had healed the man, conveyed Himself away.  But later, after the man’s encounter with the inquiring Jews, Jesus encountered him in the temple.  At that encounter, now having the man’s full attention, Jesus speaks to him of what was evidently an issue that opened the way for destruction to enter his life.  Though Jesus did not speak to a specific matter, He said to him, “Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.”  If we will change the world about us, we first need to get their attention.  Father has anointed and gifted us for that very purpose.  Let’s take healing, deliverance, and provision to them.  That will get their attention.  And having their attention, they will listen to the answer for their problem, and deal with the sin.  Jesus already defeated it.  It’s time for us to get busy with the work at hand and follow His pattern.  Just a thought. 

Manna for Today – John 5:1-17

http://www.eaglesnestforum.com – http://www.facebook.com/eaglesnestforum