Introduction

Good morning, everyone. We are studying Luke Chapter 8. This chapter is quite long, and it may feel like the paragraphs are disjointed. This is because you haven’t understood it properly. If you did, you would know what Luke is trying to convey. It is very important to discern what the author intends to write. A skilled writer does not write haphazardly. This chapter might seem to be missing connections between paragraphs, but if I were writing it, I would clearly highlight the main theme.

I believe Luke wrote it this way deliberately, so that readers would not readily understand and would thus ponder the chapter’s theme more carefully. I have noticed that the entire Bible contains many stumbling blocks. Jesus Christ said, “Blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” How can we avoid being offended? Focused seeking is the key point I want to emphasize. What I present in this chapter may not be entirely accurate, but I encourage everyone to contemplate further and see how I discuss the hundredfold return of the Gospel.

The Gospel We Believe in Offers a Hundredfold Return

After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means. (Luke 8:1-3)

You must understand that the Gospel we believe in offers a hundredfold return. It not only resolves various problems, but also reverses financial situations. Healing the sick and casting out demons are inseparable parts of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. Jesus traveled through cities and villages healing the sick and casting out demons. Besides the twelve disciples, some women who had been freed from demons accompanied him. Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, Susanna, and many other women supported Jesus and his disciples with their resources. These women, like Mary Magdalene, had previously been afflicted by evil spirits and diseases. After the demons were cast out, they began to support Jesus and his disciples financially. This demonstrates that casting out demons can bring a bountiful financial return.

People often ask me, can believing in the Lord provide for your livelihood? I didn't know how to answer this before. I wanted to say yes, but I lacked the confidence. Later, I gradually discovered that the return on casting out demons is extremely substantial. Demons bring money. After casting out demons, the blessings they stole must be returned to the brothers and sisters, just like with these women. After the demons were cast out, their finances were inexplicably blessed, and they used their own wealth to support Jesus and the disciples.

The Cares, Wealth, and Pleasures of This Life Prevent People from Receiving

While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. 6 Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, it withered because it had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.” When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” His disciples asked him what this parable meant. He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, “‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’ “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. (Luke 8:4-17)

At that time, many people gathered to see Jesus, and Jesus shared a teaching through a parable. Some could receive these returns, while others could not. What was the reason? Jesus explained: Not everyone who hears the word of God receives a hundredfold return. Who are those who can receive it? It is when God plants the seed of His word in a person, and the person hearing it can hold onto the word and patiently produce fruit, like a seed falling on good soil. Let us carefully consider what hinders people from receiving this hundredfold return.

I feel deeply about this because I have recently been contending with Satan. I was battling and dealing with Satan last night. A sister had rheumatoid arthritis, with swollen joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is an immune system disorder. We humans have immune cells that attack toxic cells. However, when these immune cells, which should be protecting us, suddenly become chaotic and attack our own bodies, problems arise. This sister's joints were swollen, and I knew immediately it was the work of the devil. Then, as we prayed, she vomited a lot of chocolate-colored filth, and there was a lot of stuff blocking her chest that couldn't come out.

Yesterday, during prayers, someone who was paralyzed also experienced vomiting. Someone with a swollen hand also improved a lot after prayer. Many other symptoms were also healed after prayer. How did these people get into this state because of the devil? It turns out that many of us are controlled by the cares of this life, wealth, and pleasures. The devil doesn't make people commit murder or arson; instead, it leads people to pursue the cares of this life, wealth, and pleasures. When people pursue worldly things, they attract demons. If people hear the word but are choked by the cares, wealth, and pleasures of this life, they cannot bear fruit. Some people, you might not say they don't believe in the Lord, but they just don't see the hundredfold return.

A few days ago, one of our pastors received a sister whose parents were living miserably. They had no money, yet they wanted to live in a nice house, had high expenses, and were in debt. They often pressured their children to give them money. This sister was very filial to her parents, but this kind of filial piety cannot solve people's problems. The pastor was going to lead her in prayer at 8:30 PM, but she said she couldn't because she had to take care of her children, saying only things about taking care of daily life. Shouldn't she consider why she was being made so miserable by the devil? If we are only concerned about the children's affairs, I will give you a heads-up, and don't blame me for being unsympathetic. We cannot serve this kind of person because they fundamentally lack the character to strike at the devil and the enemy.

I gave someone an idea to deal with the child, but they may not agree with it. Because they don't agree, and then they do what I say blindly, in the end, the effect is not good, and they think I am talking nonsense. Many things inside us are indulgent to the flesh, concerned about this life, and unable to let go，so we cannot fight against Satan. For example, a sister had rheumatoid arthritis. In the past few years, she had been working hard for money. This was God striking her, so she turned back to God. If she could still persevere, it would be difficult to turn back to God. She was indeed a Christian, but she lived miserably.

I think Christians should do as I do, not caring about anything, just loving to trample on the head of the devil. Satan loves to find our weaknesses to pinch, but Satan cannot pinch Jesus; Satan can deceive Adam and Eve, but cannot deceive Jesus. The devil tempted Jesus to turn stones into bread, but Jesus said: Man shall live on every word that comes from the mouth of God. So, are we clear in our perception? In life, we will encounter all kinds of people and hear all kinds of temptations and deceptions. You can continue to follow your own understanding, but can you bear a hundredfold return?

Brothers and sisters, think about what kind of people we are. If you want to be a Christian, be a resounding Christian; if you want to be an engineer, be a resounding engineer; if you want to be a lawyer, be a resounding lawyer; if you want to be an accountant, be a resounding accountant. The reason is simple, if you are not a resounding engineer, the bridges you build will collapse, and the buildings you build will be crooked, isn't this going to land you in jail? From today onwards, stop messing around and be a resounding Christian, but to be a resounding Christian, you must be willing to pay the price.

The cares of this life are the greatest obstacle in a person's life. The devil Satan uses the matter of daily life to kill you . If you are deceived by the devil, can you live a good life? You can't live well at all. If you listen to the word of Jesus Christ, your finances and health will definitely be blessed, everything you do will be blessed, and you can also perform miracles. You are powerful. Do you want this hundredfold return or not? If you want to get this hundredfold return, you have to be willing to pay the price.

Our Family Members Are a Significant Obstacle

Now Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they were unable to get near him because of the crowd. Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.”He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.” (Luke 8:19-21)

Once, there was a foolish young man who suffered a shock during a romantic relationship while studying for his doctorate, and as a result, he became possessed by many demons. His mind could not think, and he could not continue studying for his doctorate. Later, he found me online. On the first day he came, I cast out many demons from him. He vomited a lot of chocolate-colored stuff, with streaks of blood, which was quite scary. After vomiting, he was filled with the Holy Spirit and prayed in tongues, and he was healed. The next day, he told me: For the first time, he had such good sleep, and his mind began to become clear.

Although his mind was clear, his understanding was not very transparent. One day, he said to his mother: Who are my mother and brothers? Those who do the will of my Father in heaven are. As a result, his mother said upon hearing this: You stinky brat, I raised you so big, you ingrate, you actually say I am not your mother! Our family members are a significant obstacle to our belief, but if you say this to family members who do not believe, aren't you being foolish? Never do this. It doesn't work.

What I am saying is that Jesus was ministering at the time, and his mother and brothers happened to come to see him, and Jesus said these words. We must be clear in our hearts, but we don't necessarily say this to our family. Our priority must be that God takes first place in our lives. Whoever keeps and practices God's word is my mother, is my brother. Although these words are a bit unsympathetic, if you want to get this hundredfold return, you really have to have this energy!

The Bible says that a person's enemies are their own family members. Because there is an emotional relationship between oneself and family members, the emotional connection will create obstacles. If you are ministering and your family members do not agree, they will give you a cold shoulder and throw a temper tantrum. Sometimes, you really have to compromise. But once you compromise, it's troublesome. Originally, you were going to get a hundredfold return, but you end up not getting it.

Brothers and sisters, don't twist what I am saying. We very much hope to be a blessing to our family, but we must have wisdom! For example, Joseph was sold to Egypt, and as a result, he became the prime minister of Egypt. When his family encountered famine, they came to Egypt to seek refuge with Joseph, and Joseph became a blessing to the family. But the problem is, Joseph must have Joseph's character, and Jacob must have Jacob's character! If you don't have this character, you can't be the prime minister of Egypt! Who can you bless? You can't bless anyone!

Although we say that whoever hears God's word and keeps and practices it is my mother and brothers and sisters, we still long to be a blessing to our family. We still hope to bless people on the street, let alone our family members. But the problem is that Satan often uses our family members to hinder us from getting this hundredfold return.

We really have to think about whether you have been hindered or not. There is often a habit in churches called buy one get one free. What does this mean? It means the church hires someone to be a pastor, and as a result, the pastor's wife also works in the church. Later, they call the pastor's wife the pastor's wife. The pastor's wife is actually a very strange position. It is not in the Bible, but in real life, you will find that family problems are church problems, and church problems are family problems, which I find very interesting.

A pastor told me that his wife cannot affect his ministry. But his wife told him to stay home to take care of their children, and he stayed home to take care of their children. He could be off work for a long time. But the Bible doesn't say that work should be done like that. What kind of job allows you to work like that? I don't have the guts to do that. I think today if we want to receive the word of God, we still have to pay a price. If we don't pay any price, and yet we get a hundredfold return, it sounds a bit like a fairy tale. For example, Huawei, if people don't work hard, could they have become what they are today? If it could be done casually, everyone could become Huawei.

We Must All Pass on the Hope of the Gospel to Those in Need

Luke wrote this, and then he said something very interesting:

No one lights a lamp and covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him. (Luke 8:16-18)

What is this hundredfold return all about? It is that if you have, more will be given to you; if you do not have, even what you think you have will be taken away. What does this have to do with putting the lamp on a stand so that those who come in can see the light? I tell you, the way we believe in today is extraordinary. The way we believe in is a way that gives light to people and allows them to gain hope.

If we can give people hope, we will receive a hundredfold return, because when we shine the light, people see the glory of God in the light we display, and it ignites hope within them. We are people who bring hope to others; if we have, more will be given to us, but if we do not bring hope to others and often bring despair, even what little we have will be taken away. The gospel we receive is a gospel of hope; the question is, have you given hope to others?

I feel that I often give people hope. Every time I pray, that paralyzed person comes to join the prayer, believing in my faith that he will one day stand up and walk. He will have hope when he hears my words. He had a car accident that injured his lumbar spine; what he needs is not just doctrine, but hope, miracles, and the manifestation of God's power in his body. Yesterday I prayed for him, and those uncomfortable symptoms slowly disappeared, his heart was enlightened, and he vomited a lot of dirty and filthy things. He told me he felt better.

My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power. (1 Corinthians 2:4-5)

Brothers and sisters, you must know that if the gospel we believe in is not a gospel of power, how can it give people hope? The gospel we believe in does not depend on human wisdom, but only on the power of God. How can people not have hope when they hear it? People need hope when they are sick. A pastor once preached a sermon: If God does not heal you, do you still believe? If it were me, if my God is not a God of healing, what would I believe in Him for? People need to have hope, but many people have had their hope of being healed taken away. It is very hard for people in pain. Who who is paralyzed does not hope to stand up and walk, who who is blind does not hope to see?

The gospel we believe in can allow us to have a hundredfold return. This is the way to bring hope to people. While we are alive, let us be able to experience the laws of the power of the Holy Spirit, rather than living under the laws of nature. I give everyone hope today: if you are sick, desire it earnestly, and God will heal you sooner or later. God will definitely heal you. No matter how I examine the Bible, I find that Jesus wants to free those who are oppressed by demons and those who are burdened by diseases. Therefore, do not lose hope. This hope is given to us by God in eternity. We not only experience His power in this life, but our faith must also be built on the foundation of His power.

If someone says: Believing in Jesus can get you to heaven after death, but you can't see or experience anything while you are alive. I urge you not to believe blindly, but to examine it more. The Bible says bluntly: My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power. How did Jesus come into the world to prove that He is the Son of God? It was through miracles and wonders, and even demons were subject to Jesus. The gospel of Jesus Christ is inseparable from miracles and wonders; it is also inseparable from the power of the Holy Spirit. If people do according to God's words, they will surely see God's glory and see God's power.

Luke then wrote several stories to prove this. In the first story, Jesus fell asleep in the boat, and suddenly a storm arose, and the whole boat was filled with water. The disciples woke Jesus up, and Jesus rebuked the wind and waves to subside, and the wind and waves stopped. The gospel we believe in has the power to calm the wind and waves. Brothers and sisters, do not be afraid. No matter what tribulations one encounters in life, they cannot stop the power of God.

We must know that we have authority from God in our hands, and the wind and waves must listen to our words. This is the power of the gospel. If we do such things, can we not have a hundredfold return? The wind and waves in our lives can be commanded to subside. Isn't this a hundredfold return? But the question is, are we willing to pay the price for such power? If so, we must follow the example of Jesus, who was willing to walk the road to the cross for us, even to the point of not caring about His own life. This is a character, not that we need to be killed, but that such a character is revealed in our bones. If we are not afraid of death, what else are we afraid of? Our gospel power is extremely high!

Then they sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. As Jesus was climbing out of the boat, a man from the town who was possessed by demons met him. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” For Jesus had commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.

Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss. A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and the demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs. He gave them permission, and the demons came out of the man and went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside.

People went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left. The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him. (Luke 8:26-39)

Brothers and sisters, you must know that demons fear Jesus, but can you be like Jesus and make demons fear you too? If demons fear you, you will have a hundredfold return. Not only will demons fear you, but even the wind and waves will fear you. Today we believe in such a gospel. Before, I was bitterly pursuing to be like Jesus, and today I am more and more like Jesus. The rewards for being like Jesus are so high! Today Jesus Christ has become my greatest treasure. Not only do the wind and waves obey me, but demons will also obey me. In the spiritual world, we have all become people with great names, which is an extraordinary thing. Therefore, worldly things are nothing in the face of Jesus.

Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. Then came a man named Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, and he fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying. As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. “Who touched me?” Jesus asked.

When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you. (some manuscripts add, “and you ask, ‘Who touched me?’”) But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.” Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you; go in peace.”

While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler, “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.” Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.” When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother. Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.” They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus directed that something should be given her to eat. Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened. (Luke 8:40-56)

Does everyone desire to be like Jesus today? If we are like Jesus, when a woman with bleeding touches us, power will go out from us and she will be healed. What a rich reward this is. She touched Jesus, and the spirit of bleeding was driven out by the power of Jesus Christ. This is a hundredfold return. This gospel can resurrect the dead, can bring people's souls back, if we still do not know the reality of the spiritual world today, that is a tragedy. People's lives and deaths depend on the spirit, and the gospel we believe in can allow people's souls to return in the spiritual realm. This is the gospel of power.

Summary

Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” (Luke 7:22-23)

Are we still believing in a powerless gospel that does not conform to the gospel preached by Jesus? We must return to the Bible and learn the powerful gospel of Jesus in order to have a hundredfold return! What does it matter if we leave everything behind for such a gospel? Nothing is more precious than this gospel. We are all people who have received this treasure. Let this treasure show great power in us, just like the power that Jesus manifested, which can bring hope to people.

Brothers and sisters, what we need today is not doctrine. One plus one equals two is correct, but when we don't have a job, repeatedly reading these doctrines will not solve the problem. What Christians need is not doctrine, but the power of God, a gospel that can bring a hundredfold return. We must not let our desires, small lives, and families take away this gospel.

Today, it is no longer ourselves who live, but Jesus Christ who lives in us. Now the devil and the enemy have been trampled underfoot! The blessings that the devil stole in the past will be repaid double today. Nothing can control us, because we have obtained Jesus Christ as the greatest treasure. Now we regard everything as dung. Only Jesus Christ and the gospel He has given us have become our lifelong pursuit and our treasure!

May God bless everyone!