Luke Pt. 46: How true Disciples Roll

Following Christ in prayerful, non aggressive strength, surrendered to His will.

Still in the Upper Room Jesus is going to give His followers a lot of direction as to how to specifically follow Him. He give them and us HIS Kingdom Leadership Paradigm and explains the reality of Hard Road of His Discipleship. He shares how Christ’s Disciples prepare for Spiritual Opposition. He gives us some insight into tactics Satan used and will use on us! (that is why it is in the Scripture, to help us!) We are charged with following Christ in prayerful, non aggressive strength, surrendered to God’s will. His true disciples will operate with honesty and integrity when dealing with conflict. We are to be mindful of how satan operates and avoid going with the flow of the ‘spirit of the hour’ so as to avoid gettin caught up in the ‘time when the power of darkness reigns’.

Luke 22:24-53

24 Then they began to argue among themselves about who would be the greatest among them. 25 Jesus told them, “In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called ‘friends of the people.’ 26 But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant.

  • The disciples quickly move from self examination to argument about status
  • Christ identifies the corrupt way of leadership in our world…(it is accepted)
  • He says: ‘You, my True Disciples will be different’…he redefines what status is
  • Jesus is explicit regarding this matter (Matthew 20 / Mark 10 / John 13)
  • Servant Leadership is the only Biblical way to leading Christ’s Church

27 Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves.

  • Normal way is that the greater importance belongs to the one being served
  • When you follow Christ you do as He did; you sacrifice your needs for others
  • Doing for others is how WE measure importance / STATUS in Christ’s kingdom
  • We can’t fudge on His example…”well our church is so big we need a CEO…”

28 “You have stayed with me in my time of trial. 29 And just as my Father has granted me a Kingdom, I now grant you the right 30 to eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom. And you will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

  • They have made the cut… based on Gospel of John, Judas has left the room
  • What belongs to Jesus belongs to His ‘True Disciples’
  • The right to eat & drink is about family and community (partnership)
  • The 12 will condemn the rejection of Christ by the Jews (- Judas + Matthias)

31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. 32 But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”

  • Christ calls him Simon, telling him he has a ways to go to become Peter
  • 1st part of this is about all the Disciples (plural of you in V29, V30 & V31)
  • Then it becomes focused on Peter (singular of you all three times in V32)
  • You are all going to go thru some mess, then use what you learn to help others
  • Servant Leadership is born of experiencing humility, as in being humiliated!
  • When you have been there and done that, you want to help others not go there

33 Peter said, “Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you, and even to die with you.” 34 But Jesus said, “Peter, let me tell you something. Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.”

  • Peter is earnest in his declarations, but naive as far as to how hard the road is
  • Jesus let’s him know that his sin will take him where he can’t believe he will go
  • What Peter lacked at that point was the indwelling Holy Spirit

35 Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you out to preach the Good News and you did not have money, a traveler’s bag, or an extra pair of sandals, did you need anything?” “No,” they replied.

  • Based on how hard things are going to get Jesus wanted to prepare them & us
  • Prior to the Crucifixion the forces of Hell didn’t organize against the threat
  • Disciples were not considered a threat a couple years ago

36 “But now,” he said, “take your money and a traveler’s bag. And if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one! 37 For the time has come for this prophecy about me to be fulfilled: ‘He was counted among the rebels.’

  • Post Crucifixion the game changes drastically, protection instead of fashion
  • It was foretold the true messiah would be labeled an insurrectionist
  • To the Jewish authority Christ & His Followers will now pose a threat

Yes, everything written about me by the prophets will come true.” 38 “Look, Lord,” they replied, “we have two swords among us.” “That’s enough,” he said.

  • Christ alludes to what is going to happen over the next three and a half days
  • They say, we have two in our midst who can protect, who are armed
  • Jesus says, that’s good, we don’t need material offense, just defense

39 Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives. 40 There he told them, “Pray that you will not give in to temptation.” 41 He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

  • They went to the usual place so Judas would know where to find them
  • He tells them and us directly: Pray for God to enable you to fight temptations
  • He goes out of earshot and prays this model prayer for us! V.42
  • He gives us an example of how we should look at everything in our lives
  • Since we have given our lives to Him why would we not submit to His will?
  • It is hard to say sometimes honestly, the more you believe it the more you do it

43 Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. 44 He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.

  • The God / man Jesus The Christ relied on & got strength from heaven (model)
  • Resignation to God’s will brings strength and empowerment
  • Resignation to God’s will brings the ability to persevere, physically & spiritually

45 At last he stood up again and returned to the disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation.”

  • At last means: when the struggle was finished…some time had passed
  • They were sleeping because they are like you and me: weak humans
  • Jesus tells us we can overcome temptations, it takes persistence & connection

47 But even as Jesus said this, a crowd approached, led by Judas, one of the twelve disciples. Judas walked over to Jesus to greet him with a kiss. 48 But Jesus said, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”

  • The crowd was made up of ‘Temple Guards’, the Sanhedrin’s private army
  • Since it was dark they needed a sign to get the right guy…
  • Satan will use the cover of ‘love’ to get what he wants (any means necessary)
  • ‘Test the Spirits’ Those opposed to Christ will erect elaborate facades of lies

49 When the other disciples saw what was about to happen, they exclaimed, “Lord, should we fight? We brought the swords!” 50 And one of them struck at the high priest’s slave, slashing off his right ear. 51 But Jesus said, “No more of this.” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.

  • Now that Jesus was identified, the guards moved to take him into custody
  • The High Priest’s slave was probably giving orders
  • A strategic strike to defend their leader, John 18 identifies Peter as swordsman
  • Jesus ended it and restored what had been hurt
  • We all do dumb stuff in anger, we must stop when we hear Christ say stop!

52 Then Jesus spoke to the leading priests, the captains of the Temple guard, and the elders who had come for him. “Am I some dangerous revolutionary,” he asked, “that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me? 53 Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there every day. But this is your moment, the time when the power of darkness reigns.”

  • He demonstrates that their actions prove the evil intent they have
  • If they had a legitimate issue they would approach Him publicly, legally
  • Acting at night and violently is a mark of how Satan operates
  • People who act like this CAN NOT be honest about what their goals are

SUMMARY:

By His example, Christ clearly defines leadership among His Disciples as opposite the world’s way, calling the leaders of His people to be servants not overlords.

Christ’s Disciples will partner with Him in His Kingdom; but the journey includes hard tests and even the best of us will fail to honor Jesus every time.

Jesus warns His Disciples to be prepared for the opposition from HELL we face as objects of Christ’s redemption & forgiveness. Prepare to be attacked, not to attack.

Christ models for us HIS way to be proactive with temptation: He is real with His Dad and He resigns His will to that of The Father.

Evil that opposes Christ & His Disciples will not always do it overtly, they will claim the mantle of love. ‘The denial of Christ Jesus as God’ cannot contain any real love.

Achieving goals by whatever means necessary is not Christ’s way. His Disciples don’t do subterfuge or aggression; we do honesty and self defense.

APPLICATION:

What part will you play in encouraging and valuing the ‘Biblical Culture’ of servant leadership @ Midtown?

How well do you specifically identify the temptations you are facing in your life?

Why is it important for YOU to constantly pray: ‘God, I want Your will done, not mine’?

Should Christ’s Disciples agree with the social & political views of those who’s beliefs and actions contradict Jesus Christ’s ways and words?

/by

Luke pt. 45: The Importance of Examining our Faith

INTRO

· Making our way through Luke, almost done I promise. 2 more chapters

· Starting here with the account of the Passover celebration with the disciples, we start on a string of events that is recorded in each gospel.

· Even though the plan of our salvation can seem so obvious and straight forward to us now, the disciples had different expectations. Political revolution, war, free state of Israel.

· Jesus continues to reveal his true mission here on earth. This had been the plan the whole time, but now it’s here.

· What we are going to learn this week: 1) why communion is important, 2) why we participate in communion, and 3) why it is important that we continually examine our faith.

· Last week, we learned the plot to kill Jesus is in motion

7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”

· Passover, the highest Jewish holiday, it was the story of God sparing the Israelites because of the blood of the lamb.

· The tenth and final plague that God inflicted upon Pharaoh, the angel of death killed every first born son.

· The Israelites were told to sacrifice a young lamb, without blemish

· God looked upon the blood of the lamb on the door and spared them.

· reminder that Christ was under the law, did not neglect its commands, like celebrating high Jewish holidays.

· Only perfect man that ever lived, able to meet the rigorous standard of the mosaic law.

9 “Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked. 10 He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, 11 and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 12 He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.” 13 They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.

· Jesus knows exactly what the plan is, every little detail. Here, and regarding our salvation.

· The disciples found it was all true, just like he said it would be

· “Blind faith” is sort of a misnomer. Jesus makes his case over and over why we should trust him. This is more Evidence for the rest of the gospel, things go the way he said they would go.

· Important to focus on this point. Jesus could have told them exactly what house to go to. Instead he tells them to find a random man who will lead them.

· Jesus teaches them they need to rely on divine providence, in dependence of him. we should engage in the same process of dependent learning, being true disciples of Jesus.

· Do you depend on God’s divine providence? How much of your life do you hold on to, and want to run yourself? This has dire consequences.

· “Is there some part of his life where he is consciously resisting… the commandment of Jesus. Is there some part of your life which you are refusing to surrender, some sinful passion, some hope, ambition or reason? If so you may not be surprised to find… that prayer is difficult, or that your request for faith remains unanswered” -Bonhoeffer

· I hold on to my future. Planning for where I want to be, when I want to retire, where to live. We gotta let go!

· A part of your life not surrendered to Jesus can lead to a lack of faith, and even a lack of God’s grace, indicating the absence of the holy spirit!

14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” 17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. 18 For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

· vs 15, Jesus eagerly wanted to do this! It started his suffering, but also the salvation and redemption of mankind.

· vs 16, with Christ as the sacrificial lamb, he says we will not need to eat the unleavened feast again, he fulfilled it and completed the atonement. Jesus is our Passover.

· 1 Corinthians 5:7 “Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.”

· the Passover was a foreshadowing, Jesus is the fulfillment of what a sacrifice is all about.

19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

· Common communion passage, it establishes the sacrament that we partake in!

· sacrament is something ordained by Christ, that is a symbol of spiritual reality

· Augustine of Hippo said it is an “outward sign of an inward grace”. similar to baptism.

· Not salvific, but a demonstration of the accomplished grace.

· Only two sacraments universally accepted in the Christian church. A confession of how we give over control.

· There was a normal script that the head of the table would recite.

· v19, “this is my body, given for you”. Weird! Not part of Passover. He is the offering. References Leviticus 21:8 ” Regard them as holy, because they offer up the food of your God. Consider them holy, because I the LORD am holy”.

· Jesus did not use the normal meaning of the Passover elements, he reinterpreted them.

· why participation is important. We get to sit and enjoy a meal with him.

· so we do this as a witness, a confirmation of the promise he made. declarative bond that we partake in his broken body.

· v19 “do this in remembrance of me”. A clear cut command. We see the disciples do this throughout Acts 2:42 “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

· Jesus tells us to do this until he comes back, not for a season. Also a looking forward to his return. Because we do believe he is coming back.

· v20, “new covenant” implies there is an old covenant. There were several actually, with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David.

· Some of these are conditional, some unconditional. Some to Israel, others to all mankind.

· this new covenant is for everyone, he has been broken for us. not a trashing of the old. progressive revelations with each new one.

· this new one fulfills all old covenants. Jesus came not to break, but to fulfill. It is the apex of god’s promise!

· This is why we want to keep it fresh, less of a ritual, and more of a purposeful celebration. A gift we’ve been given. Not something to do without recognizing the importance of it.

21 But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. 22 The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays him!” 23 They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.

· We read last week that Satan had already overtaken Judas. Again, there is nothing Jesus doesn’t know.

· Judas just performed the ceremony and customs of the law, being fully turned against the Lord in hatred!

· words and Actions might plausibly profess religion, but his heart was corrupt and evil.

· There are those who have taken the bread and the cup, who have professed Christ, and still betrayed Him.

· Have you given control to God?

· v23, they questioned themselves. They inspected their own faith. this is part of why we do communion every week.

· to check our relationship with Jesus, to examine our faith.

· Paul says inspect your faith. 2 Cor 13:5 ” Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you–unless, of course, you fail the test?”

· It is something we need to constantly ask ourselves. This ritual drives us to a point of self-examination.

· As followers of Jesus we need to make this a lifestyle.

Summary

· Jesus impressed on his disciples a dependence on him. As disciples, we are to live the same way. There is no such thing as an independent disciple.

· It can seriously impact our faith and belief when we hold on to control in our lives.

· Communion celebrates what Jesus purposefully accomplished. It is an opportunity to regularly experience his sacrifice.

· Judas was going through the motions, the results are the same if we just go through the motions. It leads to death.

Application

· How are you trusting God? One thing to say it. Another to do it. with your money? with your relationships? with your plans?

· What are you not trusting Him for?

· How do you examine your faith? Do you have purposeful practices in your life that cause self-examination of what is hopefully your most treasured possession.

· How can we see communion for more of what it is? Do you see it as important? Should it be?

/by

Luke Pt. 44 ‘Contentment Not confusion / Faith Not Fear

Luke 21:20-38 & 22:1-6

Jesus continues His teaching that is parallel prophecies… His earthly time was coming to a close…each word and action was purposeful. He knew there was everything on the line: Those who obey His Word would find redemption, those who do not: destruction. Christ wants His followers to be content with what we know about His return. We don’t need to be confused with a lot of sequences and pseudo-signs… There’s not going to be anything for us to do other than look up and see our salvation! Christ calls us to live THIS life based on our faith & trust in our ETERNAL life. We don’t live preoccupied with holding on to this life. We certainly don’t live like this life as if this life is all there is. We live unto for and united with Jesus Christ; not protect or prolong THIS Life! As if we could add a minute to our lives by worry… (Jesus @ Luke 12 & Matthew 6) Contentment with His coming & trust for His plans should mark us as Christ’s people.

20 “And when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you will know that the time of its destruction has arrived. 21 Then those in Judea must flee to the hills. Those in Jerusalem must get out, and those out in the country should not return to the city.

  • Verses before this speak of the persecutions that will occur in book of Acts
  • The next time Jerusalem will be attacked is when Rome destroys it in 70 AD
  • 70 AD: Christians in Jerusalem & nearby obeyed Christ’s words and survived

22 For those will be days of God’s vengeance, and the prophetic words of the Scriptures will be fulfilled. 23 How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for nursing mothers in those days. For there will be disaster in the land and great anger against this people.

  • Many prophecies of doom for Jerusalem for turning away from God
  • This is the 2nd time God will destroy Jerusalem in Judgement (second chance)
  • Heart wrenching brutality will be visited on the inhabitants of Jerusalem
  • God’s anger is justified by God’s standards (‘This People’ / ‘Covenant Nation’)

24 They will be killed by the sword or sent away as captives to all the nations of the world. And Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the period of the Gentiles comes to an end.

  • Judgement for the corruption of the Temple
  • What has happened to the Jews since the destruction of Jerusalem?
  • Jerusalem captured and recaptured 15 times since 70 AD / every 135 yrs

25 “And there will be strange signs in the sun, moon, and stars. And here on earth the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides. 26 People will be terrified at what they see coming upon the earth, for the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

  • Shifting from 70 AD to the end of ‘The Age of the Gentiles’ / Church Age
  • Unmistakable cosmic events will usher in the end (but for how long?)
  • Fundamental changes in the oceans, things that have never happened
  • Great fear and foreboding will grip people because of the upheaval in nature
  • …And then!

27 Then everyone will see the Son of Man coming on a cloud with power and great glory. 28 So when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near!”

  • Christ’s return will be seen by all in a universal, world wide supernatural event!
  • Those who know Christ will recognize the author of your salvation
  • When ‘All These Things

29 Then he gave them this illustration: “Notice the fig tree, or any other tree. 30 When the leaves come out, you know without being told that summer is near. 31 In the same way, when you see all these things taking place, you can know that the Kingdom of God is near.

  • God’s world has ways that it follows every time (seasons)
  • Reliable as seasons changing: so the end of this age will be after these signs

32 I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things have taken place. 33 Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.

  • Do not mistake this: ‘This Generation’ is a synonym for ‘Age of The Gentiles’
  • This world as we know it will come to an end, but what God says is eternal

34 “Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware, 35 like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth. 36 Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.”

  • Be on Guard! Be intentional in how you live! Don’t waste the time you have!
  • Today is the day to start living more fully for God!
  • Thinking you will always have time is a lie! No guarantee of another minute!
  • If you are alive it is possible for you to see Christ’s return
  • “Look busy, the boss is coming!”
  • This End could happen in your lifetime, pray for God Given strength stand firm
  • Keeping alert is focusing on your relationship with Christ
  • Standing before Him means: surrendered to and belonging to HIM

37 Every day Jesus went to the Temple to teach, and each evening he returned to spend the night on the Mount of Olives. 38 The crowds gathered at the Temple early each morning to hear him. 1 The Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is also called Passover, was approaching. 2 The leading priests and teachers of religious law were plotting how to kill Jesus, but they were afraid of the people’s reaction.

  • Jesus establishes a routine that will enable Judas to guide the Jews to Him
  • The Passover begins Thursday @ sundown
  • They should be focused on worshiping God not eliminating their competition

3 Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples, 4 and he went to the leading priests and captains of the Temple guard to discuss the best way to betray Jesus to them. 5 They were delighted, and they promised to give him money. 6 So he agreed and began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus so they could arrest him when the crowds weren’t around.

  • This is demonic ‘possession’. Judas was not protected by the Holy Spirit
  • He somehow knew these men cared more about their power than God
  • They figured money would be more important to Judas than loyalty
  • They both knew they had to avoid the crowds…

SUMMARY:

Jesus foretold Jerusalem’s destruction; tying it to God’s judgement foretold in scripture & to warn His followers.

Christ foretells the unmistakable signs of His return at the end of this age.

Jesus is repeatedly clear about the world-wide supernatural event of His return.

Christ’s words are eternal truth, the signs He described MUST happen before He returns.

Jesus commands His people to focus on HIS priorities; not personal, worldly desires.

Christ calls us to stay connected to Him so we can be prepared for His return.

Scripture teaches that God was in charge of all the events that resulted in Christ’s Crucifixion.

APPLICATION:

What are some lessons for Christ’s followers in the destruction of Jerusalem?

Why is it important to be well versed on what Jesus says about His return?

What does it look like for you to keep your heart from becoming ‘Dull’?

Why does God want us to know what happened to setup Christ’s betrayal?

/by