Luke Pt. 24: The Cost of Misusing Scripture

The use of God’s Word is a sacred responsibility for everyone, especially someone God has raised to Eldership. The leaders of God’s people must be constantly on guard for what has overtaken the Pharisees & Scribes that Jesus points out & condemns in our passage today. They have become corrupt; their position of leadership is meant to serve people, and instead they oppress and control those people using God’s Word to justify it!

There are honest mistakes, misinterpretations and misapplications of God’s Word that happen all the time as we pursue discipleship. Jesus is condemning religious leaders for abusing the power God’s Name in a willful, unrepentant manner

Leaders have a massive responsibility to handle God’s Word and to teach others how to handle it. (Context, Audience, Place in Scripture, Language @ both ends) Everyone one who is part of Jesus Christ’s body needs to always be growing in their knowledge of Scripture so they can be aware of misuse, misrepresentations and misinterpretations of God’s Word

Luke 11:43-54

43 “What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you love to sit in the seats of honor in the synagogues and receive respectful greetings as you walk in the marketplaces. 44 Yes, what sorrow awaits you! For you are like hidden graves in a field. People walk over them without knowing the corruption they are stepping on.”

  • ‘What Sorrow’ is the ultimate sorrow: Eternity separated from God
  • What they love (more than God) is the attention, approval & praise of people
  • This is what is known as narcissism, a self focus that is incredibly corrupting
  • It’s a preoccupation with image, & facade as well (a lifestyle of dishonesty)
  • You can’t see the rot & filth with a casual observance, but the ‘Death’ is there

45 “Teacher,” said an expert in religious law, “you have insulted us, too, in what you just said.” 46 “Yes,” said Jesus, “what sorrow also awaits you experts in religious law! For you crush people with unbearable religious demands, and you never lift a finger to ease the burden.

  • We are offended because we support the Pharisees, they have picked sides
  • Jesus says, ‘Yeah you are in the same boat with them’ (Against God)
  • The sorrow of being separated from God is born of misusing your expertise
  • Justifying oppression by ‘God’s Word’ & exempting yourself from responsibility
  • A lack of acting with compassion is a sign of religious misuse of God’s Word

47 What sorrow awaits you! For you build monuments for the prophets your own ancestors killed long ago. 48 But in fact, you stand as witnesses who agree with what your ancestors did. They killed the prophets, and you join in their crime by building the monuments!

  • You act like you honor what God has revealed thru prophets / scripture
  • The ‘Cult of The Temple’ at that time
  • Their allegiance was to the structure they controlled rather than God
  • God was a ‘Figure Head’ for how them rather than the leader
  • We also support such evil if we do not oppose the wrong practices

49 This is what God in his wisdom said about you:‘I will send prophets and apostles to them, but they will kill some and persecute the others.’

  • The rejection of God’s revelation & the manipulating of God’s Word will happen
  • Misusing God’s Word is the same as persecuting & killing His representatives

50 “As a result, this generation will be held responsible for the murder of all God’s prophets from the creation of the world— 51 from the murder of Abel to the murder of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, it will certainly be charged against this generation.

  • ‘This generation’ is everyone from this point forward (The revelation of Christ)
  • With what they now knew and what we know (Christ) we are accountable
  • We either honor God’s prophets / word or we are guilty of murder too

Old Testament Tie-In Time! Let’s take a look at what Jesus was referencing:

Chronicles 24:19-22

Although the Lord sent prophets to the people to bring them back to him, and though they testified against them, they would not listen. Then the Spirit of God came on Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood before the people and said, “This is what God says: ‘Why do you disobey the Lord’s commands? You will not prosper. Because you have forsaken the Lord, he has forsaken you.’”

But they plotted against him, and by order of the king they stoned him to death in the courtyard of the Lord’s temple. 22 King Joash did not remember the kindness Zechariah’s father Jehoiada had shown him but killed his son, who said as he lay dying, “May the Lord see this and call you to account.”

  • King Joash met with a bad end…

52 “What sorrow awaits you experts in religious law! For you remove the key to knowledge from the people. You don’t enter the Kingdom yourselves, and you prevent others from entering.”

  • Their misuse of Scripture keeps them & others from eternity with God
  • To willingly do such a thing, is blasphemy of The Holy Spirit / denial of God

53 As Jesus was leaving, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees became hostile and tried to provoke him with many questions. 54 They wanted to trap him into saying something they could use against him.

  • Instead of hearing what Christ was saying they wanted to keep manipulating
  • Their study of Scripture was not to understand it but to leverage for themselves
  • The trap is using scripture to justify your desires in opposition to Christ
  • Proper use of scriptures transforms your desires to match God’s (Psalm 37:4)

Summary:

A life of religious facade will corrupt and ultimately leads to the greatest sorrow.

The use of God’s Word as a pretext for oppression leads to the greatest sorrow.

Institutionalizing Scripture but not truly honoring His revelation contained in it, leads to the greatest sorrow.

We are responsible if we allow or tolerate what Christ has condemned, instead we must actively oppose it.

Expertise in Scripture that is not used for yours & others salvation leads to the greatest sorrow.

Using Scripture as a means to manipulate people & justify selfish actions is ‘Anti-Christ’.

Application:

What are some specific ways that scripture is misused in the world around you?

Why does Jesus focus so intently on the misuse of scripture by such a small group?

If you are not working against the misuse of scripture, are you supporting the misuse of scripture?

How can you intentionally keep yourself from misusing Scripture to justify selfish actions?

/by

Luke PT. 23: CHRIST BASED PERSPECTIVE

What goes into the way you view this world? What shapes your perspective? How do you see it? What is your point of view?

Each of us has a perspective, a worldview that we apply to EVERYTHING! As followers of Jesus Christ we claim our perspective is based on HIM. To have that be the truth we will listen to Christ’s Words and apply them with actions.

And how do we keep our ‘Eye Healthy’? ie. keep a Biblical perspective? Look at what Jesus says in Luke 11:28: “Even more blessed are all who hear the Word of God and put it into practice.”

Luke 11:29-42

29 As the crowd pressed in on Jesus, he said, “This evil generation keeps asking me to show them a miraculous sign. But the only sign I will give them is the sign of Jonah. 30 What happened to him was a sign to the people of Nineveh that God had sent him. What happens to the Son of Man will be a sign to these people that he was sent by God.

  • The sign of Jonah is being dead and coming back to life
  • It was enough for the entire city of Nineveh to repent, because God sent him
  • Christ’s resurrection will be enough for those He was sent to
  • Every generation has evil who wont believe & a chosen group who believe
  • ‘Spiritual Scarcity’ isn’t a fruit of The Spirit. (Gal 5:22-23 = Christ’s Disciples

31 “The queen of Sheba will stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for she came from a distant land to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Now someone greater than Solomon is here—but you refuse to listen.

  • To ‘Stand up against’ is to give evidence to the contrary…
  • She did what she did to taste of God’s wisdom, NOW God offers HIMSELF!

32 The people of Nineveh will also stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah. Now someone greater than Jonah is here—but you refuse to repent.

  • This ties back to how He said the only sign will be the sign of Jonah…
  • The people of Nineveh, the whole city repented!
  • They did that because God sent a man, Now God has come Himself

33“No one lights a lamp and then hides it or puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house. 34 “Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when it is unhealthy, your body is filled with darkness.”

  • Think of your eye as ‘The way you see things’ ie ‘Subjective Reality’
  • Your subjective reality is ruled by your theology, Biblical or Non Biblical
  • There is no 3rd theology, it is either Biblical (good) or non-Biblical (evil)
  • Healthy = Reality that is ruled by Biblical Theology (Relational Grace by Spirit)
  • Unhealthy = Reality influenced by Non-Biblical Theology (legalism / scarcity)

How do we evaluate this health? Galatians 5:22&23

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

35 “Make sure that the light you think you have is not actually darkness. 36 If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light.

  • Christ tells us to ‘Make Sure’ …’Be Intentional’ about evaluating your life
  • We need some objectivity / less subjectivity, that’s how we get into the corners
  • The objective is to shine God’s light, we need each other to grow into that

37 As Jesus was speaking, one of the Pharisees invited him home for a meal. So he went in and took his place at the table. 38 His host was amazed to see that he sat down to eat without first performing the hand-washing ceremony required by Jewish custom.

  • Some of what Jesus was saying was resonating with a Pharisee…
  • He expected Christ to be caught up in legalism, like he was

39 Then the Lord said to him, “You Pharisees are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and wickedness! 40 Fools! Didn’t God make the inside as well as the outside? 41 So clean the inside by giving gifts to the poor, and you will be clean all over.

  • Similar analogy to Christ calling Pharisees ‘Whitewashed Tombs’
  • Their focus on appearances led to the rotting of their souls
  • Doing things for others in need comes from experiencing forgiveness

42 “What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore justice and the love of God. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.

  • A focus on minutia & disregard the big picture of The Gospel, does not go well
  • A focus on the more important things and growing in obedience = balance

Summary:

Christ’s Resurrection is enough of a ‘Sign’ for those Christ is sent to.

The Resurrection is the gateway to a Christ Based Perspective

There are people who have humbled themselves before God and believed who had far less info than we have, they will testify against those who want more info.

Exhaustive information dosen’t creates Christ Based Perspective, Faith does!

How you look at things really matters! A Worldview born of Biblical Theology is a goal of Christian Discipleship. That is what makes your eye healthy & helpful to others.

Having a ‘Healthy Eye’ is seeing this world for what it is and seeing God for who He is. ‘The way you see things’ / perspective, effects every part of your life.

Having a healthy eye is living by faith & grace in a way that others notice: growing consistently in ‘The Fruit of The Spirit’.

You change your perspective by changing how you live: doing, not talking

We can make sure our light is not really darkness by living out honest relationships in Biblical community. It is the only way to get at ‘dark corners’.

We need help making sure…

God wants to clean our insides (soul) by having us do sacrificial things, not ‘Shows of Spirituality’. Following Christ requires sacrifice & change (Romans 12:1&2)

Perspective change happens through living & doing

Following the letter of the law rather than the Spirit is the height of foolishness. It leads to greed (not just for money) & wickedness.

Legalism is a sickness that rots your integrity

Christ calls us to live in balance: Observing God’s Word relationally not legalistically. We align our priorities with His by growing in His love and His Justice.

Application: Being intentional about growing in your Christ based perspective

Two aspects of good Biblical application:

Honest evaluation of your life.

Intentional action to change where you need to

How do you see it now? How can you change how you see it?

#1. Is Jesus’ Resurrection alone enough for you to declare Him Christ? Why or why not?

#2. What things / activities / people have had the most influence on your worldview?

#3. How does your relationship life exhibit growth in the fruit of the Spirit?

#4. How have you recently changed & what have you sacrificed as a result of your discipleship?

/by

Luke Pt. 22: Whose Side?

This Scripture exists to address a serious problem that happens in Jesus Christ’s Church. The problem at it’s root is we don’t understand things about Evil based on scripture. We can at times be confused about the spiritual world how it has only two sides. Jesus Christ wants to teach us about Evil, we need to listen and apply the biblical knowledge, not get sucked into emotional ideas about evil. Ideas about evil being less than intentional, less than diabolical, less than absolutely opposed to God and His Christ, less than divisive, less than opportunistic.

In this passage Jesus is going to specifically address some of the ways evil works. We need to pay attention, we need to build a culture that intentionally works against evil from a place of understanding and unity. We are all able to be infected with what is afflicting these people, Jesus is addressing. Whenever something is addressed in Scripture that means it pertains to you and me. Dear Christian, never tell yourself: ‘oh that can’t happen to me’. When something like that comes out of our mouth we give evil a place.

11:14-28

14 One day Jesus cast out a demon from a man who couldn’t speak, and when the demon was gone, the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed…15 but some of them said, “No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons.” 16 Others, trying to test Jesus, demanded that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority.

  • Jesus does an amazing healing and for some it’s not ‘good enough’
  • The result of a lack of grace & faith: cynical, jaded and demanding
  • Who were the ‘some of them’ that questioned what side Jesus was on?
  • On who’s side are the people questioning Jesus’ authority? Are they neutral?
  • Because Jesus was not their tribe (The Temple) they labeled Him ‘Evil’

17 He knew their thoughts, so he said, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A family splintered by feuding will fall apart. 18 You say I am empowered by Satan. But if Satan is divided and fighting against himself, how can his kingdom survive?

  • Since He knew what they were thinking He addressed the root issue
  • Root issue for them & us is we don’t apply biblical knowledge of how evil works
  • Evil is not haphazard. Evil is not obvious. Evil is subtle & intentionally deceptive
  • Evil seeks to divide it’s opponents while banding together to survive

19 And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said. 20 But if I am casting out demons by the power of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you.

  • Jesus tells them: ‘Your Bias is Showing’! If someone is in your tribe, they’re ok
  • Jesus calls them out for using a double standard, not seeking objective truth
  • Can we get this narrow minded about what is constitutes Kingdom work?
  • They only see God’s work in a context they have deemed ‘appropriate’

21 For when a strong man is fully armed and guards his palace, his possessions are safe— 22 until someone even stronger attacks and overpowers him, strips him of his weapons, and carries off his belongings.

  • This is a story to show there are different sides and you are on one or the other
  • One side can appear to be the one in power until the greater power shows itself
  • We can’t always see God working, it appears evil has the upper hand
  • But eventually God will show Himself sovereign over evil
  • Because HE is stronger He can render evils weapons useless
  • And HE can take what evil has stolen: SOULS!

23 “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.

  • This is the main point of the passage and other teaching of Christ: ‘Pick a Side’
  • Everything that is not Good is Evil by definition…there is no 3rd Kingdom
  • The Myth of the 3rd Kingdom Book: Kingdom matrix by Jeff Christopherson
  • Exposition of the Biblical teaching that there is no ‘middle ground’

24 “When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, searching for rest. But when it finds none, it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ 25 So it returns and finds that its former home is all swept and in order.

(Move In Ready / Unoccupied Space)

  • If ‘Spiritual House’ is Unoccupied, ie. Neutral, it is open to be inhabited by evil
  • The unoccupied space is not neutral, it’s still evil’s territory until good replaces it
  • What is not good, is evil…What is not evil is good

26 Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before.”

  • If you don’t replace evil with God you are still basically evil
  • All that is not ruled by good / God’s Ways is open to become ruled by evil
  • If your ‘House’ (Life / Soul) isn’t aligned with Good it is de-facto aligned with evil
  • Don’t leave your ‘house’ available to ‘squatters’
  • Once entrenched, evil get stronger; when given place evil becomes the ‘Owner’

27 As he was speaking, a woman in the crowd called out, “God bless your mother—the womb from which you came, and the breasts that nursed you!” 28 Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.”

  • Your linage is not what determines your blessedness
  • True Blessings: Our receptiveness to God’s Word & practice of God’s Word
  • Practice means to with regularity and the goal of improving
  • As disciples this is how we are to approach God’s Word: becoming a practitioner

SUMMARY:

Those on Christ’s side don’t create division by making false claims & accusations.

Division is a killer of kingdoms & families; on our side we fight it with God’s Grace!

Evil can appear to be in charge, God’s ways are always able to overcome it.

All Spiritual things are either of Christ or of the enemy, there is no spiritual neutrality!

Jesus says: ‘You are either with me or against me’, there is no 3rd Kingdom!

When evil is expelled it must be replaced with good or evil will reclaim the territory.

There’s more blessings in practicing God’s Word than any heritage or tradition.

APPLICATION:

How can you avoid being demanding & instead be gracious towards God’s actions?

Understanding evil always seeks to divide, how do you proactively promote unity?

What things are considered ‘spiritually neutral’? How do you avoid treating them that way?

Have you ever recognized a place in your life you ‘swept clean’ but didn’t replace the evil?

What are some specific ways you can become more of a practitioner of God’s Word?

/by

Luke pt. 21: Listen, Pray & Persist

Just like last week, let us not be too familiar with this passage. Ask God to illuminate it anew for you today!Together these teaching of Christ provide something of a ‘Prayer 101’…

Luke 10:38-42 & 11:1-13

38 As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught.

  • This is the first time we meet Mary & Martha (Sisters of Lazarus)
  • Martha was the hostess, she invited Jesus Christ into her home / her presence
  • Mary is given the chance by Martha, to sit at Christ’s feet, to be in His presence
  • She no only heard, she listened to His teaching (she ‘took it to heart’)

40 But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”

  • What was Martha distracted from? She wanted to listen to Christ’s teaching too!
  • It is not a bad thing to be ‘Doing something for Jesus’…preparing a meal
  • It’s a ‘Big Dinner’ / a lot of preparation… Who is she trying to impress?
  • She’s frustrated, but she chose to remove herself from the Lord’s presence
  • Instead of making the right choice, she wants Jesus to have Mary miss out too!
  • She is focused on someone else other than her relationship with Christ

41 But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! 42 There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

  • Jesus wants her to know that she is dear to Him, but He points out wrong focus
  • He say’s: you’re worried about the wrong stuff, because only one thing matters
  • The ‘One thing that matters’ is to listen to my teaching so you can have eternity
  • Mary surrendered herself to what matters most and it will be her’s forever
  • Mary chose ‘Focused’ discipleship rather than ‘Distracted’ discipleship

Are you leaving space in your world of doing things for Jesus to just BE with Jesus? The idea is that Jesus wants us to sit at His feet (posture of a Disciple). He wants us to not be distracted by doing things, even good things!

1 Once Jesus was in a certain place praying. As he finished, one of his disciples came to him and said, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

  • Christ had a habit of going off alone to pray, He may have had ‘favorite places’
  • When he was done, not interrupting Him, ONE of His disciples implores Christ
  • It’s possible this disciple was one of John the Baptist disciples (Andrew & John)
  • This is a great request, who better to learn of prayer from?
  • The humility of the disciple is key, he recognizes his need to learn about prayer

2 Jesus said, “This is how you should pray: “Father, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. 3 Give us each day the food we need,

  • This is pointed teaching framing out the core of our relationship with God
  • This is structure & priorities for how God wants us to communicate with Him
  • We start with God’s singular place as the only Holy One!
  • He wants us to care about & act in ways that keep His Reputation / Name Holy
  • We are to care about & act in ways which enact His will (kingdom come = Will)
  • #1 & #2 PRAYER priorities: God’s Reputation & His Will being done
  • Greek: may your name be held in honor, may your reign begin
  • Daily Bread = Mana… We ask for what we need today; trust in future provision
  • God wants us to have an on going relationship, daily contact

4 and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation.”

  • Daily seeking God for our needs includes the need to be forgiven
  • Our constant experiencing of God’s forgiveness enables us to be forgiving
  • We are to ask for HIS power over temptation; Greek: keep us from times of trial

5 Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this story: “Suppose you went to a friend’s house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, 6 ‘A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.’

  • Now we have a parable that says: if you really need something, keep asking
  • It is meant to give an example to what Christ just said about prayer
  • He uses an example of one who is asking for something on behalf of others
  • It is a request for something necessary, for someone else

7 And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can’t help you.’ 8 But I tell you this—though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence.

  • The initial answer is: ‘I can’t help you’
  • Then Jesus says: ‘but I’ll tell you this…’ When He says that, we do well to listen
  • The answer can change if you can be persistent enough
  • A key factor is that Jesus is talking about prayers for others in need
  • When asking God for help on behalf of others, our persistence can play a role

9 “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

  • Then He expands the principal by saying, whatever you ask God for keep at it!
  • Seeking: looking for answers from God to explain situations
  • Knocking: We knock on doors so that someone will come to the door

11 “You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? 12 Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! 13 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”

  • You parents: Your motives for the care of your children are, right?
  • Would a parent who’s child asks for something good give them something bad?
  • You (any parent) can make this happen in the imperfect state of sin
  • Imaging how much better God will do it
  • And His desire is for His Spirit to indwell and guide YOU & Me

Summary:

2 examples of how to listen to Jesus: distracted & focused. Jesus says which is best.

Our Prayer life should start with our growing in unity with who God is & His will.

Our prayer life should be daily relationship about physical provision & soul provision.

We are to be ‘Shamelessly Persistent’ when interceding with God for those in need.

We are to keep asking, seeking & knocking because God WILL answer.

We can trust God’s motives in how He answers our prayers.

Application Questions:

What are the things that distract you from a more focused discipleship?

What parts of ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ do you practice regularly & what parts need attention?

What is your theological justification for being persistent in praying for other’s needs?

What keeps you from being persistent in praying for your material & spiritual need?

/by

Luke Pt. 20: Am I A Neighbor?

Luke 10:

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[c]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[d]”

28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[e] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

/by

Luke Pt. 19: Peace, Provision, Power & Privilege

Luke 10:1-20

10 The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit. 2 These were his instructions to them: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.

  • Key differences between the instructions given the twelve vs these 72
  • Christ trained leaders (12) then gave then ½ of as many to then train 12 x 6 = 72
  • One extra P: Prayer
  • The worker being sent into the fields are told to ask for more workers to be sent
  • Those who God sends on mission are to ask Him for co-workers
  • Who is in charge of ‘The Harvest’? If it’s about us, beware pride or self-loathing
  • We do not ‘Own’ any ministry, we should not say ‘My Ministry’
  • Every mission field is ‘His Field’

3 Now go, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves. 4 Don’t take any money with you, nor a traveler’s bag, nor an extra pair of sandals. And don’t stop to greet anyone on the road.

  • ‘Now Go’… if God gives you a job don’t delay (delayed obedience = disobedience)
  • Realize this is not going to be ‘Safe’…God does not offer ‘Safe’ to Christ followers
  • Count on God to provide essentials and that what you have now is enough
  • Don’t tell God to prepare you more, He knows if you are prepared enough
  • Stay focused on what you have been sent to do, keep moving

5 “Whenever you enter someone’s home, first say, ‘May God’s peace be on this house.’ 6 If those who live there are peaceful, the blessing will stand; if they are not, the blessing will return to you. 7 Don’t move around from home to home. Stay in one place, eating and drinking what they provide, because those who work deserve their pay.

  • Establish if people are willing to accept God’s offer of peace (Gospel)
  • Even if the offer is rejected, you are still blessed for offering it
  • Don’t go provision shopping, be content with God’s idea of provision for you
  • Let God bless you for doing what He asked you to do.

8 “If you enter a town and it welcomes you, eat whatever is set before you. 9 Heal the sick, and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God is near you now.’ 10 But if a town refuses to welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 11 ‘We wipe even the dust of your town from our feet to show that we have abandoned you to your fate. And know this—the Kingdom of God is near!’

  • Once welcomed, live as those who welcomed you do: ‘Contextual Mission Work’
  • Demonstrate God’s power by healing (Physical & Emotional)
  • Give people hope that the Kingdom is becoming accessible (Gospel)
  • See if God is working there and if not, let them know you have no part in their fate
  • When rejected, try to leave them thinking about The Kingdom

12 I assure you, even wicked Sodom will be better off than such a town on judgment day. 13 “What sorrow awaits you, Korazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have repented of their sins long ago, clothing themselves in burlap and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse.

  • How can Sodom be better off?
  • They didn’t get a chance to respond to the offer of God’s peace
  • Korazin & Bethsaida saw His power 1st hand and didn’t respond (no repentance)
  • Jesus says those in ‘wicked’ towns would respond in repentance vs rejecting Him

14 Yes, Tyre and Sidon will be better off on judgment day than you. 15 And you people of Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the dead.” 16 Then he said to the disciples, “Anyone who accepts your message is also accepting me. And anyone who rejects you is rejecting me. And anyone who rejects me is rejecting God, who sent me.”

  • Tyre & Sidon neighbors to Israel where God was not fully revealed
  • They will be better off because they didn’t get the opportunity Capernaum did
  • God has mercy on those who He gives less chances / reveals Himself to less
  • The Message = Jesus Christ = God
  • How people respond to the Gospel is the same as how they respond to God
  • The principal; from those who are given much, much is expected

But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required. Luke 12:48

17 When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!” 18 “Yes,” he told them, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning!

  • The joyful report: demonic forces must obey Christ’s followers who ‘use His name’
  • ‘In Someone’s Name’ & to ‘Come In Someone’s Name’ are about unity & oneness
  • When we act in unity with God’s will, we can trust that demons must obey us
  • The most powerful of Angels (now The Enemy) is forced to bend to God’s will
  • Only through unity with God’s will & His Spirit can we overcome demonic forces

19 Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. 20 But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.”

  • He gives them ‘Authority’, but the real gift isn’t the authority
  • The real gift is eternal union w/ God, Him forgiving our sin & buying us out of hell
  • Because God Himself has ‘registered’ our names in heaven we get that authority
  • But the value of that authority is not even close to the value of salvation (eternity)

21 At that same time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and he said, “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way.

  • What gave Jesus such Joy?
  • The very idea of what He was going to accomplish @ the cross: Our Salvation!
  • He was joyful the 72 were learning important theological lessons
  • Thanking God for being who He is: opposes the Proud, gives grace to the humble
  • If we want to please Him we need to do things His way: humble yourself!

22 “My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

  • Trust, unity, complete transparency & total intimacy are perfect in the Trinity
  • You cannot know God The Father except thru God The Son
  • Christ chooses those He reveals the Father to (we don’t really ‘Choose Jesus’)

23 Then when they were alone, he turned to the disciples and said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you have seen. 24 I tell you, many prophets and kings longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it.”

  • Christ shares this last part only with the 12
  • You are being given much, so much more than prophets and Kings
  • Many with strong desires to know God fully were not given what the 12 got

Summary:

It’s God’s field & harvest; we prayerfully ask God to multiply us & call our partners.
To work with Christ we must go where danger is, but He provides for our eternal safety.

Offering Christ’s Peace is the ultimate blessing, & our calling as Christ’s disciples.

Those given more opportunity will be judged more harshly regarding their response.

Working with Christ by His power is awesome. Christ’s salvation is ‘The Awesomest’!

Thinking we are wise & clever impairs our vision of God; humility opens our eyes.

Realize how fortunate you are if Christ has chosen you, so live thankfully & graciously.

Application Challenges:

Will you live for eternity and not to stay alive, trusting in Christ’s Peace without fear?
Will you live like God Provides everything, so you can follow where He leads?
Will you live trusting Christ’s Power He gives You to do His Kingdom Work?
Will you live from a place of gratitude for the Privilege of living your life for Christ?

/by

Luke Pt. 18: Maturity Matters

We all need to mature as disciples. Not only do we have that need, it should be an undisputed goal of Jesus Christ’s church: creating a culture seeking spiritual maturity. Spiritual, Emotional, & Relational health are the hallmarks of mature disciples of Christ.

Christ’s discipleship is a process that produces maturity. Maturity is the normal process of all creation: plants, animals & people. So if we are to move towards maturity as disciples of Christ, how do we measure that?

The Sermon on The Mount gives us standards for a relationally mature disciple of Christ, a vision of the goals of discipleship. Today’s passage gives us more standards in response to disciples being immature.

You can’t microwave Discipleship! It takes time, there is no other way God does it. Learning from mistakes and redoing lessons until it becomes lifestyle: Discipleship

Our passage today is a series of encounters between Jesus & His established disciples as well as those just becoming His disciples. In all these encounters Jesus points out their immaturity & leads them to maturity.

Here & now Christ uses His Body & Leaders to identify immaturity & to help the immature grow. This is how Jesus Christ’s church is supposed to work! Spiritual / Relational maturity is not a luxury for Christ’s Body, it is absolutely essential!

Ask God’s Spirit to open your eyes to your own immaturity, and for Him to change you!

Luke 9:37-62

37 The next day, after they had come down the mountain, a large crowd met Jesus. 38 A man in the crowd called out to him, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, my only child. 39 An evil spirit keeps seizing him, making him scream. It throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It batters him and hardly ever leaves him alone. 40 I begged your disciples to cast out the spirit, but they couldn’t do it.”

  • Always crowds! What a thing it must have been to see Him while incarnated
  • Only Child (seems to be a theme)
  • Dealing with Demonization / Possession is serious spiritual business
  • This Guy had heard of Jesus’ disciples casting out demons

One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority

to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases. (Luke 9:1) 3 weeks ago

  • The 12 had experience, but could not do it! ‘dem knew it, but them can’t do it’ B.Boys

41 Jesus said, “You faithless and corrupt people! How long must I be with you and put up with you?” Then he said to the man, “Bring your son here.”

  • God calls us what we are: faithless & corrupt (be honest about who you are)
  • They had cast out demons weeks ago at the most
  • The disciples did not apply what they knew and had seen God do (Need Practice)
  • How long until you are transformed? Some of that depends on you

42 As the boy came forward, the demon knocked him to the ground and threw him into a violent convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the evil spirit and healed the boy. Then he gave him back to his father.

  • The evil spirit gave everyone a display of his possession
  • Jesus rebuked the demon, cast it out
  • He healed the boy of the damage done by the demon
  • Returned him to his previous state (reconciliation)

43 Awe gripped the people as they saw this majestic display of God’s power. While everyone was marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples, 44 “Listen to me and remember what I say. The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies.” 45 But they didn’t know what he meant. Its significance was hidden from them, so they couldn’t understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.

  • No other explanation, so it has to be God
  • While the display of power was still fresh in their minds, He taught them
  • He had noticed how they forgot previous lessons (God knows we are not perfect)
  • We all need repetitive schooling from Jesus! Get used to it and make it lifestyle
  • We all need to take lessons from Jesus and wait for them to fully make sense

46 Then his disciples began arguing about which of them was the greatest. 47 But Jesus knew their thoughts, so he brought a little child to his side. 48 Then he said to them, “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me also welcomes my Father who sent me. Whoever is the least among you is the greatest.”

  • God has far less trouble noticing our pride than we do ourselves (false humility)
  • This is a direct call to be humble, not act humble!
  • True humility begins with how you approach God (we need outside evaluation)
  • We are not to aspire to be greatest but rather to be the least…180 difference
  • This sort of thing never happens in the church today, right? HA!

49 John said to Jesus, “Master, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he isn’t in our group.” 50 But Jesus said, “Don’t stop him! Anyone who is not against you is for you.”

  • Our shared goal as Christ’s followers is more important than any group / sect
  • The opposition will be clear; worry about them, no need to go looking for enemies
  • Recognize we are on the same team
  • The spiritually immature will see false enemies and judge other people’s callings
  • I was regularly like this 15 years ago, can still be in my worst moments.

51 As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. 52 He sent messengers ahead to a Samaritan village to prepare for his arrival. 53 But the people of the village did not welcome Jesus because he was on his way to Jerusalem.

  • Luke lays the ground work for Jesus’ mission to be understood
  • Samaritans only wanted Jesus if He was going to be on their side
  • Competition and cultural differences used as excuses for disunity

54 When James and John saw this, they said to Jesus, “Lord, should we call down fire from heaven to burn them up?” 55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them. 56 So they went on to another village.

  • Exercising power for personal reasons while ‘spiritualizing it’ = immaturity
  • We learn as we mature that ‘Vengeance Belongs to The Lord’…Him alone
  • I used to put a lot of energy into attempting to enact my idea of ‘Justice’
  • Jesus will use others to rebuke the immature, these guys accepted it, will you?

57 As they were walking along, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.”

  • Immature disciples over-promise; Jesus wants us deal with reality.
  • The message: ‘Count the Cost’ Christ’s disciples are guaranteed NOTHING here
  • A realistic view of discipleship as a long hard process is the start of maturity
  • Making choices that involve sacrifice of comfort, acceptance &status = Maturity

59 He said to another person, “Come, follow me.” The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.” 60 But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.”

  • Meaning is: ‘let me inherit my father’s estate’
  • Priority is worldly things 1st, then heavenly things after. There never is an after…
  • Same message as the third soil in the parable of the soils from Luke 8

“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.” ~ Jesus @ Luke 8:14

61 Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.” 62 But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”

  • Being Christ’s disciple is not about being detached from you old life but living the same life in a totally new way. Don’t look back, look forward.
  • To be part of The Kingdom of God you must be ‘Undivided’ in your loyalties
  • Mature disciples will prioritize The Kingdom over EVERYTHING else

Summary:

Mature Disciples recognize their flaws and need for Christ’s Spirit

Mature Disciples trust God even when things don’t make sense

Mature Disciples are humble having been humbled by God

Mature Disciples recognize how God calls us all to serve Him differently

Mature Disciples accept that Justice belongs to The Lord

Mature Disciples consistently prioritize The Kingdom over things in this world

Application Questions:

To grow in maturity, how can you allow God to stretch you spiritually / emotionally / relationally?

How well do you recognize your ‘Spiritual Pride’? How can you intentionally pursue greater humility?

How do you avoid judging other’s practices, callings and ministry practices?

What may be the costs you have to consider to go to the next phase of your discipleship?

/by

Luke Pt. 17: Christ’s Gospel & His Glory

Our community here at Midtown Church is formed around the Gospel of Jesus Christ. A key aspect of that culture is we place a High Value on the Word of God: ‘The Scriptures’

If you are looking for commentary & speculation on our current situation, you have come to the wrong place. If you are looking for the Word of God prayerfully presented, explained and applied, welcome home! May God Bless you!

This passage is extremely important regardingTheology & our resulting discipleship. We get a clear definition of exactly who Jesus of Nazareth is and what He will do. We get clear expectations from Jesus as to how His true disciples should respond to His Messiahship, His Redeeming Death & Resurrection and His call lose our lives. We see how together the Old & New Testaments proclaim Jesus as Messiah and together are a progressive revelation of who God is We get a Clear Command to ‘Listen’ to Jesus. To listen is to hear and understand, and if we listen to Christ well, we will always act on what He says. That is what we call Discipleship!

Luke 9:18-36

18 Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?” 19 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.”

  • The last thing we saw Jesus do is feed 5000 people with 5 loves & 2 fish
  • At this point the Disciples had seen: Calming Storms / Healings / Resurrections
  • The crowds saw some of these things as well; how does society view Jesus?
  • There was that tendency to define God as He had previously been defined
  • Same attitude as Herod Antipas in last weeks’s text

20 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.” 21 Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone.

  • Knowing that they (the 12) had been chosen He asks them in private
  • Peter answers for them: Eternal / Anointed / Divine / Glorified
  • It wasn’t God’s plan for Jesus of Nazareth to be declared Messiah at that time
  • By all accounts the Disciples did what Jesus commanded them to do

22 And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”

  • Christ says ‘Must’… this is God’s plan laid out to His Disciples
  • The ‘Son of Man’ Speaks the mystery of the Incarnation (All God & All Man)
  • He Must: Suffer many Things
  • He Must be Rejected by The Entire Religious Establishment (Roman Style)
  • He Must Die (His human body)
  • He Must be Resurrected
  • This is the story of how the Gospel (The Message of the Messiah) was enacted

23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.

  • Christ gives clear expectations of what it takes to be His Disciple
  • Self Denial…the only way to be honest about that is to surrender your life
  • The daily taking of my cross means I have to do it every day (go to my death)
  • The only way to do this is His Way; it only works when we follow Him
  • Being His Disciple means you lose your life FOR HIM
  • If you want to be the god of your life you cannot be Jesus Christ’s Disciple
  • If you want to be the god of your life you will lose ‘life’ (Eternity with God)

One is truly wise who surrenders what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose!

25 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? 26 Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

  • The question Christ asks us all is: What really matters?
  • This a crucial part of what the Gospel Message contains: How we respond!
  • When you totally buy into something you are not ashamed to be associated
  • His association with us will mirror our association with Him
  • Our commitment now / His commitment for eternity
  • If we could get a glimpse of that glory we would respond with commitment

27 “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.” 28 About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray.

  • He ends the conversation with a real zinger!
  • He shows them what He is talking about 8 days later…Taking only the three

29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. 30 Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. 31 They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.

  • Christ models how prayer is the way we ‘Open Up’ to what God is doing…
  • The three were given a view of Christ’s full on Glory
  • Moses & Elijah
  • Speaking of his ‘departure’ as in His Crucification
  • The plan was in place What he shared with disciples earlier is confirmed
  • Why Moses & Elijah? Why is it significant that they be in accord with the plan

32 Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. 33 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)

  • They had been praying for a while (hard to stay focused) like in Gethsemane
  • They figure out who these two guys are.
  • They represent Old Testament Scripture:: The Law & The Prophets
  • God shows the revelation of the Hebrew scriptures are continued in Christ
  • Peter wants this meeting to continue, to have them all stay there
  • He did realize it was a window into heavenly reality, a glimpse of eternal glory

34 While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”

  • The cloud was the ‘Shekhinah Glory’ of God
  • The Glory of God is the presence of His Holiness
  • Contact with that Holiness causes humans to fear because His power is near
  • God clearly identifies The Christ and conveys His authority
  • Context of Father & Son is of oneness; so listen to Him like you listen to ME

36 When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.

  • It all ends abruptly…they were given a measured dose of Christ’s Glory
  • This revelation would not make sense until Jesus had died & risen

Summary:

The world is confused about who Jesus Christ actually is, His Disciples are not

Christ planned to suffer, be rejected, die and be raised to life: to save our souls

As His disciples we must : deny ourselves, carry our cross & follow him unashamed

God shows Christ to be a continuation of the revelation of Himself: Story of Scripture

Christ’s glory can be seen on earth, but only in limited way ‘Glimpses of Heaven’

Christ’s disciples are commanded to listen to Jesus: It is just that simple (listen = act)

Application Questions:

List at least three things that convinced you Jesus is God’s Messiah?

What does it look like in your life to ‘not be ashamed’ of Jesus or His words?

Why was Christ ‘elevated above’ and ‘included with’ Moses & Elijah?

God says: ‘Listen to Jesus’. What do you need to listen to Jesus about today?

Keep PRAYING (Send Prayer Requests to: barbiebriggs67@gmail.com)

Keep Pressing into God (Take greater ownership of your discipleship) Build habits!

Keep giving sacrificially: Honor the commitments you have made and give beyond in ways God prompts

/by

Luke Pt. 16: Christ’s Provision For His Disciples

How does Christ provide for His Disciples as shown in the Scriptures? There is a pattern in this passage that I have personally experienced. Provision shown in Scripture is for His Disciples, ones who lay down their lives for Him. This passage is specific to the provision for those who were doing His will & following. We are going to see individual provision & community provision (same pattern in both). We will see how amongst Christ Disciples there is a network of shared provision. The generosity of ‘Christ’s Surrendered Disciples’ is used by God as a means to provide for other surrendered disciples. Of course He does the heavy lifting! Our part is to venture out with open hearts & hands to join Christ in His work and to take chances while living for the Gospel, trusting Christ will provide.

Luke 9:1-17

One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases. 2 Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

  • ‘The Twelve’ Named select group (called by God, confirmed by their following)
  • Christ confers power to His chosen disciples (All disciples of Christ are ‘Chosen’)
  • The power He gives them is to heal others, to provide freedom, wholeness & life
  • Important: power over demons & diseases (not all disease is caused by demons)
  • He provides power to be used (use it or lose it)
  • He empowers those who act: He provides for those who distribute HIS love

3 “Take nothing for your journey,” he instructed them. “Don’t take a walking stick, a traveler’s bag, food, money, or even a change of clothes. 4 Wherever you go, stay in the same house until you leave town.

  • If you are going to be provided for you don’t need to provide for yourself
  • This is a class for those who are serving & obeying as true disciples (just 12 now)
  • He tells them I am going to provide for you through others (Those who respond)
  • God’s people are going to take care of His ‘Co-Workers’ (Don’t steal my blessing!)
  • Be good with what he provides, don’t go ‘provision shopping’ (trust God is right)
  • Whatever season you are in trust that the way God is providing for you is best

5 And if a town refuses to welcome you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate.” 6 So they began their circuit of the villages, preaching the Good News and healing the sick.

  • If you are not part of Christ’s providing for His Co-Workers, you are on your own!
  • The ‘Circle of Provision’ in The Kingdom of God: be provided for and help provide
  • Once given the mission they went.
  • This is Christ’s expectation of His disciples: Gospel Living & People Loving!
  • They trusted Christ to provide…does it work?

7 When Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, heard about everything Jesus was doing, he was puzzled. Some were saying that John the Baptist had been raised from the dead.

  • It is an aside between the two stories, He is interested but clueless
  • Classic example of being so self-absorbed you can’t get what God is doing

8 Others thought Jesus was Elijah or one of the other prophets risen from the dead. 9 “I beheaded John,” Herod said, “so who is this man about whom I hear such stories?” And he kept trying to see him

  • Secular view of a limited God: He recycles old guys, only works in certain ways
  • Herod thinking he controls something, can’t be John…I dealt with him!
  • There is interest in a condescending way… He didn’t try very hard to see Him

10 When the apostles returned, they told Jesus everything they had done. Then he slipped quietly away with them toward the town of Bethsaida. 11 But the crowds found out where he was going, and they followed him. He welcomed them and taught them about the Kingdom of God, and he healed those who were sick.

  • Everything ‘THEY’ had done…they knew it was Christ’s power
  • Bottom line ‘Stuff happened’! When you rely on God you will see ‘God Stuff’
  • He was in Capernaum, went around top of sea of Galilee…
  • Even without trying Jesus was drawing crowds
  • Once the crowds found Him, He welcomed, taught & healed
  • Those who took the time to find him were provided for! It is worth it to seek Him!
  • The crowd was there to be discipled: they listened, learned & followed

12 Late in the afternoon the twelve disciples came to him and said, “Send the crowds away to the nearby villages and farms, so they can find food and lodging for the night. There is nothing to eat here in this remote place.”

  • The Twelve wanted to provide for the crowds, but not thinking of the supernatural
  • Just like the 12, our ideas of provision are often limited to what we can see
  • Just like us they needed to be taught how to get in on the provision network

13 But Jesus said, “You feed them.” “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. “Or are you expecting us to go and buy enough food for this whole crowd?” 14 For there were about 5,000 men there.

  • They have expressed that there is no way to provide, Christ says: ‘You can do it!’
  • Jesus shows them they can’t provide from what they have or what they can get
  • it is important for us to get out of our limited perceptions and illusion of control
  • I have looked at situations and said, there is no way I can do this…
  • When I have walked in faith and obedience I have seen God do what I could not

Jesus replied, “Tell them to sit down in groups of about fifty each.” 15 So the people all sat down. 16 Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them.

  • 50 is about the perfect size for a fellow ship meal (like we are going to have soon)
  • He took what was there and looked to heaven
  • He blessed what was shared…His Disciples shared the 5 loves & 2 fish

Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread and fish to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. 17 They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers!

  • In order for us to bless others Christ wants to break us first! (Maturation Process)
  • Oswald Chambers: ‘We are to be broken bread and poured out wine’.
  • We get in on the provision network when we live sacrificially
  • Sharing our lives for Him & with Him as Disciples He will use us to provides 4 His
  • And as we live in such a manner, we will in turn be provided for by His Disciples
  • Midtown Has been provided fro by communities of disciples: New Hope / 1st Woodstock / Crosspoint / 1st Powdersville / Victor Church / 1027
  • As a community of disciples we have provided for communities of disciples:

    Summary:

    Christ wants us to venture out to do His work, in His power, trusting He will provide.

    Christ wants us to be content with the provision He has given us.

    Christ wants His disciples to participate in His Provision for His Disciples.

    Christ wants to bless both sides of His Disciple Provision Network.

    Application Questions:

    What has kept you from taking chances to share Christ’s message & healing?

    What has happened when you did something that required you to really trust God to provide?

    Have you not been content with what God has provided? What might change that?

    How have you been provided for by Christ’s Disciples? How have you provided for Christ’s Disciples?

    /by

    Easter 2020 Who Jesus Christ Is: 4 Scenes From 66 Hours

    4 SCENES THAT ANSWER 4 QUESTIONS

    WHO DO WE BELONG TO?

    WHO BOUGHT US?

    WHO IS OUR HOPE IN?

    WHO IS OUR REVELATION?

    The four scenes take place from 6pm Thursday to Noon Sunday

    6pm Thursday: WHO DO WE BELONG TO? John 13:1-6

    The setting is the ‘Upper Room’, they are about to begin the ‘Passover Seder Ritual’. Before they begin the meal, the guests feet were washed by a servant of the Host

    1 Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. 2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.

    • John gives us insight from the Holy Spirit as to Jesus’ state of mind
    • He had loved them by action, and His death would be the ultimate act of love
    • The betrayal was part of God’s plan

    3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.

    • With full knowledge of EVERYTHING… Jesus sought to demonstrate His love
    • The Mystery of the Incarnation…not a mystery to Jesus
    • He took on the role of the lowliest servant and one by one, washed their feet

    6 When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.” 8 “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.” 9 Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!”

    • Peter is like: your not really going to do this are you?
    • Peter can’t understand how Jesus is the greatest because He is willing to be least
    • You have to let Jesus serve you (Die For You) in order to belong to Him
    • Once Peter realizes what is at stake, he is all in
    • Are you all in with the idea of letting Jesus cleanse you / forgive you / redeem you

    Who do we belong to? CHRIST CALLS US TO BELONG TO HIM!

    3pm Friday: WHO BOUGHT US? Matthew 27:46 & 50-53

    The setting: The Place of the Skull… At about 9am Jesus is nailed to the cross. Roman solders throw dice for his clothes. The religious leaders mock him. He interacts with one of the thieves next to him. At Noon it goes dark for three hours…Here is where we pick up the action:

    46 At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”

    • The sin of all mankind is placed upon The Christ
    • God the Father cannot be in fellowship with sin so He must abandon Him
    • David prophesied this; it only makes sense in a bigger context
    • A price had to be paid, God’s perfect Justice demanded it

    50 Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit.

    • He says: ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit’ & ‘It is finished!’
    • His Life-Force left that body…for now (He Himself released His Spirit)

    51 At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, 52 and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead. 53 They left the cemetery after Jesus’ resurrection, went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and appeared to many people.

    • In both Mark and Luke the curtain being torn TOP TO BOTTOM is recorded
    • The separation of God’s presence from us because of sin is ended from His end
    • Supernatural power caused nature to resonate & God’s people to rise to new life
    • They were godly because God animated them & they demonstrated redemption

    Who Bought us? CHRIST BOUGHT & PAID FOR US TO BE RAISED FROM THE DEAD!

    6am Sunday: WHO IS OUR HOPE IN? Mark 16:1-6

    1 Saturday evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went out and purchased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they went to the tomb. 3 On the way they were asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?”

    • Sabbath was sundown Friday to sundown Saturday (No commerce)
    • The stones were not meant to be rolled away often
    • With a lever you could get it open enough to get inside
    • There would normally be men who performed such a service but not 1st thing
    • Rich people’s cemetery, there would be ‘attendants’

    4 But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled aside. 5 When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side.

    • Something had happened, they didn’t see it happen, they just could see the result
    • Luke describes ‘A young man clothed in a white robe’

    The women were shocked, 6 but the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body.

    • If you search for Jesus, who was crucified, there is no need to be alarmed
    • The angel tells them exactly what has happened; we have God’s word on it!
    • The angel says: believe in what you can’t see! That is what Hope is!

    Who is our hope in? CHRIST IS OUR HOPE FOR ETERNITY WITH GOD!

    Noon Sunday: WHO IS OUR REVELATION? Luke 24:13-17 & 21-27

    13 That same day two of Jesus’ followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. 16 But God kept them from recognizing him. 17 He asked them, “What are you discussing so intently…

    • They were part of the core of Jesus’ followers talking about the past 66 hours…
    • The resurrected Christ seems to be just another traveler
    • Jesus wants to start with what they think about it (God meets you where you are)
    • He is there to reveal Himself to them

    21 We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago. 22 “Then some women from our group of his followers were at his tomb early this morning, and they came back with an amazing report.

    • They had hoped… but they did not believe Jesus was the Messiah
    • They had an amazing ‘report’….Amazing as in there was no explanation for it

    23 They said his body was missing, and they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive! 24 Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, his body was gone, just as the women had said.”

    • Angels telling them Jesus is alive, an empty tomb and STILL they don’t believe
    • They had information, but no revelation!
    • Throughout the world people know some the story but do not believe
    • The problem is they don’t know the Whole Story…
    • Where do you get the whole Story?

    25 Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. 26 Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?”

    • It’s all there in the Hebrew Scriptures! Who the messiah is and what He does…
    • The death, burial & resurrection of Jesus the Christ only makes sense with O.T.

    27 Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

    • The information in the Bible comes alive as God’s Spirit enables us to understand
    • God Himself wants to take us through the Scriptures to understand who He is
    • Christ Himself provides the Illumination that leads to Revelation of God’s Glory
    • We need the whole of Scripture, Old & New Testaments understood together
    • We are so blessed to have the complete revelation!

    Who Reveals God to us? CHRIST IS OUR REVELATION OF GOD’S GLORY!

    Application Questions:

    What are some lifestyle choices that can help you more fully belong to Jesus Christ?

    How can you intentionally pay forward what Jesus Christ paid for you?

    How can you focus on expressing your hope for eternal union with Him?

    How can you increase your openness to Scripture’s revelation of who Christ is?

    /by