Luke Pt. 37: Surrendering What You Have To Receive Much More

Last Week: The Persistent Widow, The Pharisee & The Tax Collector, and The Children all stories Christ tells to show us how to approach God. This week: The Young Rich Ruler, there is more about approaching God, but Christ also speaks directly to how we are to enter into the Kingdom. Christ’s exchange with the ruler leads to a back and forth about eternity and ends with Christ disclosing to the clueless disciples how it will all end for Him on earth as the Messiah.

Ch 18:18-34

18 Now a certain ruler asked Him saying, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

  • Text says certain ruler, he is called ‘The Rich Young Ruler’
  • He asks what must I do? As in how do I earn eternal life?
  • The idea of eternal life being inherited is about religious entitlement

19 And Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good except one: God. 20 You know the commandments: you shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness, honor your father and mother.”

  • Christ make a clear distinction God & humans, no human is good, only God
  • He then shifts to the idea of the man keeping the law
  • These commandment Christ lists are meant to represent the whole law
  • Truly defined these commandments cannot be kept by human power
  • Biblical definition of Adultery (all sex outside of God ordained marriage)
  • Murder (not Killing)
  • Stealing (taking of anything, even ideas & credit)
  • False witness (Commission & Omission)
  • Honoring your parents (not dependent on them being honorable)

21 The man replied; “All these I have kept since my youth.”

  • So here is why they call him ‘young’; the only past he can cite is his youth
  • He tries to claim he has kept all of God’s Law according to the Jewish religion
  • It is surprising Jesus dosen’t call BS right then and there
  • He is going to let the ‘Young Ruler’ prove himself false in his claim

22 Upon hearing this Jesus said to him, “One thing you still lack: sell all that you possess and distribute the proceeds to the poor, and then you will have treasures in heaven. Then come follow me.”

  • Christ says: ‘I will assume you are telling the truth, so you will do what I ask”
  • He tells him to sell all of his ‘stuff’ and give the proceeds to those in need
  • You will not actually lose anything because you will be rewarded eternally
  • And surrender your life to following Me (God / Messiah / Son of Man / Christ)
  • Jesus asked him to demonstrate what had priority in his life; stuff or God

23 But when he heard this he became very sad; he was extremely wealthy.

  • Here is why we call him rich: he had lot’s of stuff & money
  • He dosen’t own his wealth, his wealth owns him!
  • His possessions have come between him & eternal life
  • No middle ground: either you are possessed by God or by your possessions

24 Jesus looked at him, becoming very sad, and said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 25 In fact it is easier for a camel to enter through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God!”

  • Christ sees the ‘Young Rich Rulers’ heart, it’s not for God, & that saddens Him
  • It makes Him sad because He knows many will fall into this trap
  • He declares how difficult it is to have resources and enter relationship W/ Christ
  • It is a mini parable about a Universal Spiritual Truth
  • How a camel enters the door known as the ‘eye of the needle’
  • Those with wealth must emulate the camel: lose the stuff & get on your knees

26 Those who heard it said, “Who then can be saved?” 27 Jesus said, “What is impossible for mortal beings is possible for God.”

  • The response to Jesus is: “That is super hard, how can anyone pull that off!”
  • Christ makes the point: You can’t earn heaven or have it passed down to you
  • Heaven is only entered into by those who God gives ‘Grace’ (undeserved favor)
  • Who can be saved? Whoever God enables to be saved: end of story
  • Knowing you can’t do enough to be good enough for God is the starting point
  • Then asking God to do what only He can…and being good with Him calling all the shots
  • I know I begged Him to save me… I was willing to give up whatever He asked
  • Giving up stuff dosen’t get you saved, it proves God’s work in you of salvation

28 Then Peter said, “ Look, we have left what was ours and followed you.”

  • Peter is like, ‘Yeah, we have done that, given up everything to follow Christ’
  • They didn’t do it to win God’s favor, it was their response to experiencing it

29 Then Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, there is no one who has left home or wife or siblings or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30 who will not receive many times as much in this age and in the age to come; eternal life.

  • Pat attention when Christ says: ‘I tell you the truth’
  • Sacrifice made at God’s request and for His purposes will be blessed
  • The rewards in this life are relational
  • In the next age, eternal life with Christ is THE reward (no eye has seen…)

31 Taking the twelve aside, He said to them, “See we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything written by the prophets regarding the Son of man will be carried out. 32 For He will be handed over to the Gentiles and will be ridiculed and ill treated and spate on. 33 Then after scourging Him they will kill Him, but on the third day He will rise again.”

  • To the twelve Christ describes part of how that eternal life will be purchased
  • It is the example of sacrifice Christ gives His followers
  • He is going to give up everything He has in this life for things more valuable

34 But the twelve understood none of these things; in fact, what He said was kept hidden from them and they did not grasp what was being said.

  • Christ implanted un-comprehended truth that the Spirit would later illuminate

SUMMARY:

There have been and will always be the idea that you can earn or inherit eternal life.

It is immature, prideful and foolish for anyone to believe they can keep God’s law.

An unwillingness to part with possessions will keep you from eternal life.

Christ’s followers use possessions to help those in need & approach God humbly.

The ability to give up your life for Christ is God given, only He can make it happen.

Sacrifice of what we have will lead to a greater richness for this life and eternity.

Christ leads the way for us in showing how sacrifice leads to God’s glory.

We may not understand what Christ is modeling for us, but by faith we will one day.

APPLICATION:

How well do you obey the ten commandments?

How do you plan to keep your possessions from coming between you and God?

What is your response to the Biblical truth that it is God alone who can save anyone?

In what ways does Christ’s sacrifice inspire your attitudes and lifestyle choices?

/by

Luke Pt. 36: What Jesus Teaches about Approaching God

1 One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. 2 “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. 3 A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ 4 The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, 5 but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’”

• Another parable, Jesus uses devices that he knows his audience will understand.

• Very few parables where we start being given the point the message with the point.

• An unjust judge, the polar opposite of how the audience would see God. Does not respect the natural or man-made order of things. Jesus repeats this twice, it is meant to be very clear.

• there is no way that judge would do something right!

• characteristics of the widow: alone, helpless. society was supposed to take care of this person. persistent. ask for justice.

• judge’s response: he helps her! motivation not proper, but she gets what she asks for

6 Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. 7 Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”

• I won’t summarize, Jesus does it for me. If the unjust judge does the right thing, how much more justice will God dispense?

• How God cares for the sparrow. Luke 12:16 “Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God.”

• Jesus says God “will surely give justice”. not new cars, not a spouse, not health. justice.

• Justice – “things as they should be”. shalom, means as it should be.

• What is Justice? We inherently have a desire for justice, God put it in us as our creator.

2 Samuel 12:1-14 Backstory: David slept with another man’s wife, Nathan coming to reprimand.

So the LORD sent Nathan the prophet to tell David this story: “There were two men in a certain town. One was rich, and one was poor. The rich man owned a great many sheep and cattle. The poor man owned nothing but one little lamb he had bought. He raised that little lamb, and it grew up with his children. It ate from the man’s own plate and drank from his cup. He cuddled it in his arms like a baby daughter. One day a guest arrived at the home of the rich man. But instead of killing an animal from his own flock or herd, he took the poor man’s lamb and killed it and prepared it for his guest.” David was furious. “As surely as the LORD lives,” he vowed, “any man who would do such a thing deserves to die!”

• David is the bad guy in this story. David understands what justice is. we know it when we see it. but only partially, what actually happens?

• David doesn’t get death he thinks he deserves. it seems unjust that an innocent child would die because of actions not his own.

• our desires are good! But we need to moderate it with humility that our limited capacity gets in the way.

• 2 Peter 3:13 says “we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells”. by expecting that justice will come in this life, we are setting ourselves up for failure, expectations that wont always be met.

• Thousands of years after the original sin, justice was satisfied once and for all.

• 1 Peter 3:18

“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God”.

• Why should He have to die? Our fleshly take is wrong!

• Do we trust our own intellect to decide how or when things are to be made right?

• Do you believe God will vindicate his elect, are you taking it in to your own hands?

• Persistence, bred by trust. trust that His justice will come. we are to faithfully ask for it.

9 Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: 10 “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector.

• Parables are important to keep the context.

• tax collector, lowest possible occupation. seen as traitor, worked for roman government. associated with corruption and scum. “despised” is added for our context.

• Pharisee, we see as bad guys. but they were the religious establishment, seen as the go between God and the people. the teachers, righteous and holy. standard bearers, cultural virtue. they knew about God, they know how to approach him.

• defined audience, ” great confidence in their own righteousness “

11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! 12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’

• what is the focus of this prayer?

• the works play a big part, his own actions, things done and hasn’t done.

• works based theology is still around today!

13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ 14 I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

• what a difference in posture! won’t look toward heaven. standing at a distance, not bringing attention to himself.

• Putting on a show, is our relationship with Christ meant to be a public display?

• acknowledgment of his nature. what does God prioritize, care about? repentance, acceptance of the real world? Or putting on a facade?

• can we get real with God?

• The Pharisee does not show any conviction about his own actions.

• pulls the rug out, subverts the audiences expectation.

• Humility, which is cultivated by honest assessment of our condition on earth, which is our sinful nature.

15 One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But when the disciples saw this, they scolded the parents for bothering him. 16 Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. 17 I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”

• children in the ancient world were seen and not heard. bothersome to serious activity. rabbi in town, shouldn’t be bothered by some kids.

• vs 16 ” For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children”. Focuses on how they receive the kingdom.

• a spoiled child isn’t what we’re talking about. 12 year old’s are men, we’re talking about kids under 5. newness, innocent toward life, not made bitter.

• wonder, amazement, no preconceived notions, without entitlements. with trust.

• we build over time defense mechanisms, jadedness, self-preservation

• parent knows everything in the world

• God wont betray the trust.

• Trust, built by throwing out preconceived notions, and acknowledge that God loves and cares about us, what he has for us is great.

Summary:

Jesus tells us to approach God with persistence, humility, and trust.

From the parable of the widow, we learn to persist because we know God will deliver

From the second parable, we learn to be humble because we know we cannot do it on our own.

From the third interaction, we learn to trust Him because He loves us so much He sent his son to die for us.

Application:

Why do we try to take matters into our own hands instead of giving them over to God?

Are you putting on a spiritual show? What can we do to avoid a glamorous spiritual life?

In what ways can we remain humble?

/by

Luke Pt. 35: Faith For The Future

Our passage begins with: ‘ten men with terrible trouble’ A brief story of different responses to God’s grace. What is the difference in the one that Christ focuses on? His FAITH, Saving faith! Then Christ describes in detail His second coming when asked about the ‘Kingdom of God’.

Then, as now, our need for faith in Christ is essential, because He is coming back… Or we may die first… We are all assigned a time to die before we are born!

When we develop and practice a Biblical Faith in Christ we welcome His return. As Christ’s disciples we don’t see death as the end; we know it’s the start of real life! So whether we die tomorrow or Christ returns tomorrow we need faith for the future!

Ch 17:11-37

11 As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. 12 As he entered a village there, ten men with leprosy stood at a distance, 13 crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy.

  • They were on the border, the population mixed between Jews and Samaritans
  • All ten of them looked to Him for mercy (they were desperate / social outcasts)
  • Jesus tells them to go get checked out to be cleared for reentering society
  • They all go to the priests, discovering they are healed right then (act of faith)

15 One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” 16 He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” 19 And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.”

  • There must have been instant recognition by all of them that they were healed
  • The other 9 wanted to get to the priests ASAP… too busy to recognize or thank the source
  • One is on his knees, thanking Christ for what HE had done (God’s here & healed me)
  • Where are others? Implication is some of the others were Jews not samaritans
  • Christ clearly separates the one who came back from the other nine
  • If he is already healed of leprosy what does his faith heal him of?
  • He recognizes Christ as God, the source of all good: The gift of ‘Saving Faith’

This one, not the other nine was eternally healed, saved, born again, redeemed from the spiritual death we are all born into: estrangement from our creator! Mankind is sick! Every human suffers from sin & the consequences of sin. Sin is the infection we should be most concerned with, left to our own devices it will separate us from God forever!

The Good New is God came in the form of one of us to die for us! The Biblical Gospel: Christ’s Death, Burial, Resurrection, Departure & RETURN! Our surrender by faith to Christ’s Lordship rescues us from the eternal consequences of our sin.

20 One day the Pharisees asked Jesus, “When will the Kingdom of God come?” Jesus replied, “The Kingdom of God can’t be detected by visible signs. 21 You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is already among you.”

  • Addressing the Pharisees; “you guys cant recognize it, It Is right in front of you”
  • They saw only what was visible, they didn’t see the spiritual
  • You (Pharisees / Religious Fakers) asking the question proves you can’t see
  • Similar theme last week: You (The Jews) should be able to see it (Scriptures)

22 Then he said to his disciples, “The time is coming when you will long to see the day when the Son of Man returns, but you won’t see it. 23 People will tell you, ‘Look, there is the Son of Man,’ or ‘Here he is,’ but don’t go out and follow them.

  • After speaking to the Pharisees, He then speaks to His Disciples
  • My disciples will long for my 2nd advent (Doesn’t refer to hardship / persecution)
  • There will be false messiahs, don’t follow after them (Follow Scripture)

24 For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other, so it will be on the day when the Son of Man comes. 25 But first the Son of Man must suffer terribly and be rejected by this generation.

  • Christ’s return will be seen world-wide from horizon to horizon (supernatural)
  • That same Son of Man who will return, will have departed by way of suffering and rejection

26 “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. 27 In those days, the people enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat and the flood came and destroyed them all.

  • Not if, but when He returns… it will be a world wide event of ‘Biblical Proportions’
  • Noah is building this boat for 100 years, they are partying and getting married…
  • Noah finishes, gets on the Ark, it starts to rain…they didn’t see it coming!
  • Paul @ 1 Thess. 5: The return of Christ will come like a thief in the night!

28 “And the world will be as it was in the days of Lot. People went about their daily business—eating and drinking, buying and selling, farming and building— 29 until the morning Lot left Sodom. Then fire and burning sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.

  • Another example of how God does things without prior notice

30 Yes, it will be ‘business as usual’ right up to the day when the Son of Man is revealed. 31 On that day a person out on the deck of a roof must not go down into the house to pack. A person out in the field must not return home.

  • There will not be an accurate prediction of the return of Christ (Matt 24:36-37)
  • When His return happens those who have been redeemed will be ready to go
  • If you have eternal life in Christ you don’t need anything else:

32 Remember what happened to Lot’s wife! 33 If you cling to your life, you will lose it, and if you let your life go, you will save it.

  • What happened to Lot’s wife? She looked back wanting to hold on to her previous life
  • “Whoever tries to retain their life for their own sake will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it.” ~ Literal Translation

34 That night two people will be asleep in one bed; one will be taken, the other left. 35 Two women will be grinding flour together at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.” 37 “Where will this happen, Lord?” the disciples asked. Jesus replied, “Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather.”

  • The implication is clearly that families will be vied by God as individuals
  • ‘Where there is a dead body…’ Jesus uses a popular proverb to teach that just as dead bodies attract vultures, being spiritually dead draws judgment.

SUMMARY:

Recognizing Christ as the source of all good, by faith, is foundational in redemption.

In Christ, The Kingdom of God has come, but it will be unrecognized by many.

When Christ returns, you wont have to go looking for Him, all humanity will know!

Up until Christ’s return it will be ‘biz as usual’, then a world-wide supernatural event.

One who has given up their life for Christ will be ready to go when Christ returns.

When Christ returns He will take His surrendered followers, others will be left behind.

The saved & the unsaved are and will be intermixed amongst families and vocations.

APPLICATION:

How can you become more aware of and thankful for God’s healing grace in your life?

What if Christ returned today? Is your relationship with Him where you want it to be?

Why is it important to be clear on what Scripture says about Christ’s return?

Why does Christ detail how believers & non believers are mixed in families & work?

/by

Luke Pt. 34: What are You Preoccupied With?

Two separate segments: One is a story that makes the point: If this life is all you care about, then this life will be as good as it gets for you. The second part is about how Christ’s Bride is to live together, addressing sin in an environment of grace filled forgiveness, because that is what God gave us!Both speak to the ordering of our lives, and what our preoccupation is.

Luke 16:19 – 17:10

19 Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury. 20 At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores. 21 As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores.

  • Jesus compares the ‘Earthly’ condition of two men; both ends of the spectrum
  • Obviously the rich man was aware of Lazarus

22 “Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to sit beside Abraham at the heavenly banquet. The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and he went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side.

  • At death they go to where God has predestined them to go
  • Lazarus goes to ‘Abraham’s Bosom’: Theological equivalent of ‘Paradise’ Lk 23
  • This is the ‘Presence of God’ aka: The heavenly banquet
  • The rich man goes to Sheol, a place of torment.
  • According to Christ the two places can view one another…

24 “The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.’

  • The rich man recognizes ‘Father Abraham’ & tries to associate himself with him
  • He is stuck in the past world’s hierarchy, thinking Lazarus should serve him

25 “But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.’

  • Abraham sets him straight: You got yours on earth, Lazarus got NADA!
  • The eternal situation is going to be the opposite of what they experienced
  • Once you die, your eternal destiny is fixed

27 “Then the rich man said, ‘Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father’s home. 28 For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don’t end up in this place of torment.’ 29 “But Abraham said, ‘Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.’

  • Realizing he is a gonner, the rich man wants Lazarus to warn his family
  • Abraham says: They have the info, as Jews they have the Scriptures

30 “The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.’ 31 “But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”

  • He knows his brothers listen to the Scriptures as much as he did…
  • He thinks: If someone were resurrected, that would make them repent….
  • Sad Truth: Historically what happens to the jewish religious establishment….
  • Didn’t listen to Moses & The Prophets; unpersuaded by Christ’s Resurrection

SUMMARY:

Material resources are not a sign of God’s eternal favor. Poverty and suffering are not signs of God’s eternal wrath.

There is a divide between eternal joy & eternal damnation that is determined by God.

God provides everyone with all the information they need to recognize His salvation.

Big Truth:

Those Christ has placed His Spirit in do not live a lifestyle of preoccupation with wealth, luxury and comfort. Since our hope is fully in The Gospel we don’t live for this world..

So how should those Jesus Christ bought out of Hell live?

17:1 One day Jesus said to his disciples, “There will always be temptations to sin, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting! 2 It would be better to be thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around your neck than to cause one of these little ones to fall into sin.

  • The devil, everyone’s flesh and the world provide plenty of temptation
  • As disciples of Christ we are not to join with what we have been rescued from!
  • Christ makes it clear: causing others to sin is a big deal

3 So watch yourselves! “If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive. 4 Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive.”

  • Another Believer = Fellow Disciple
  • We are called to deal with sin, not to ignore it. Ignoring sin is participating in it
  • Repentance is the only condition for ‘Abundant Forgiveness’

5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Show us how to increase our faith.” 6 The Lord answered, “If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘May you be uprooted and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you!

  • They understood their need for more faith when dealing with forgiving others
  • Same message as last week: Start small & trust God
  • It doesn’t take much faith to see amazing things happen
  • Why mustard seed? Your faith has to be faith a that can grow

7 “When a servant comes in from plowing or taking care of sheep, does his master say, ‘Come in and eat with me’? 8 No, he says, ‘Prepare my meal, put on your apron, and serve me while I eat. Then you can eat later.’

  • It takes faith to be a servant, you don’t get to serve based on what you want
  • The Master gets to call the shots, but takes care of the servant

9 And does the master thank the servant for doing what he was told to do? Of course not. 10 In the same way, when you obey me you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.’”

  • If you need to be thanked for serving Christ, you are not truly serving Him
  • It is important that we see ourselves as ‘Unworthy’ of salvation
  • In surrendering our lives to The Master we don’t do anything special, God does!

SUMMARY:

Willfully, purposefully tempting someone to sin is evil and will be punished. Fellow disciples are to address sin & facilitate repentance by practicing abundant forgiveness.

Christ’s church practices abundant forgiveness by Biblical faith in Christ. True faith is expressed by humbly serving The Master dutifully, without needing to be thanked!

We are called to be preoccupied with living as Christ’s disciples!

APPLICATION:

What is your plan to avoid becoming preoccupied with a lifestyle of luxury & comfort?

How do you foster relationships that can handle addressing sin?

How well do you practice abundant forgiveness in your church body?

Why are you willing to serve Christ, do it consistently, and not need to be thanked?

/by

Luke Pt. 33 ‘Being Shrewd For Christ’s Sake’

What does being shrewd mean? What does being shrewd for Christ’s sake look like? Shrewdness is about realistic evaluation of reality and intentional action to achieve a goal. What’s the Goal Christ calls us to? How do we get the lay of the land and proceed? Everything we need is in the Scriptures!

Luke 16 1-18

Jesus told this story to his disciples: “There was a certain rich man who had a manager handling his affairs. One day a report came that the manager was wasting his employer’s money. 2 So the employer called him in and said, ‘What’s this I hear about you? Get your report in order, because you are going to be fired.’

  • Manager’s busted for not being a good steward of what he was given charge of

3 “The manager thought to himself, ‘Now what? My boss has fired me. I don’t have the strength to dig ditches, and I’m too proud to beg. 4 Ah, I know how to ensure that I’ll have plenty of friends who will give me a home when I am fired.’

  • He evaluates the situation he is in (he deals with his reality)
  • He shrewdly figures out how to get the best result based on a goal: self-interest
  • He recognizes the key role others play in how things go in life

5 “So he invited each person who owed money to his employer to come and discuss the situation. He asked the first one, ‘How much do you owe him?’ 6 The man replied, ‘I owe him 800 gallons of olive oil.’ So the manager told him, ‘Take the bill and quickly change it to 400 gallons.’ 7 “‘And how much do you owe my employer?’ he asked the next man. ‘I owe him 1,000 bushels of wheat,’ was the reply. ‘Here,’ the manager said, ‘take the bill and change it to 800 bushels.’

  • What he does is dishonest, but since he is getting fired anyway, it wont hurt him
  • He does things for others, in hope of the favor being returned

8 “The rich man had to admire the dishonest rascal for being so shrewd. And it is true that the children of this world are more shrewd in dealing with the world around them than are the children of the light.

  • ‘His Boss’ sees his manager is a ‘dishonest rascal’, but he is clever
  • His Boss admires the intentional application of resources to achieve a goal

9 Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home.

  • Be a good steward of ‘God Given’ resources you have, using them for others
  • Material Possessions in this world are given to serve eternal purposes
  • What matters to God is people, and their eternal souls

10 “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. 11 And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? 12 And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own?

  • Focus on incremental, intentional choices that orient your life to Christ’s ways
  • God’s Kingdom isn’t about big showy gestures, but small meaningful actions
  • We learn God’s ways in small things then apply them to everything

13 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.”

  • The motivation driving your action is crucial: we are called to be undivided
  • God will not share His Lordship! As in the first three of the Ten Commandments
  • Money is an example of what can divide your loyalty with God
  • Other things: Attention / A Relationship / A House or Car
  • If your loyalty is divided your actions will be as well as will be your impact

14 The Pharisees, who dearly loved their money, heard all this and scoffed at him. 15 Then he said to them, “You like to appear righteous in public, but God knows your hearts. What this world honors is detestable in the sight of God.

  • The example is tailored to the audience, they demonstrate their divided alliance
  • God know ALL of our hearts… And He knows what captivates your heart
  • Christ is crystal clear: Honoring God means detesting what the world honors

16 “Until now John the Baptist, the law of Moses and the messages of the prophets were your guides. But now the Good News of the Kingdom of God is preached, and everyone is eager to get in.

  • Christ considers John the Baptist’s message equal to scripture!
  • God is about His Law and has to be approached with humility & repentance
  • People mistake the Gospel as being a change in who God is how we relate
  • They want the grace without the holiness…

17 But that doesn’t mean that the law has lost its force. It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the smallest point of God’s law to be overturned. 18 “For example, a man who divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery. And anyone who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.”

  • The Good News does not change who God is, it more fully reveals who He is
  • Progressive Revelation
  • God stills calls us to live holy before him, what Christ did was make it possible
  • We can’t keep the law every time, but we are motived to be shrewd as possible
  • We cannot minimize sin, act like God dosen’t care or call it a mistake

Being shrewd for Christ’s Sake can only be done God’s way, and scripture is the place we find God’s way.

SUMMARY:

When properly motivated people are shrewd; typically focused on self-interests.

As Christians we often undervalue shrewdness / intentional action.

Get motivated to be shrewd for God’s interests (People / Souls).

Little things matter to God. Integrity matters to God. Stewardship matters to God.

God says you must be all mine, heart & soul. Your allegiance cannot be split.

God knows where you heart is, to honor God means rejecting ‘The World’s’ values.

The New Covenant is meant to give us a heart to honor God’s Law, not minimize it

APPLICATION:

How much of your intentional action benefits yourself versus others? How can you change that ratio?

What little things regarding God honoring Integrity & stewardship can you grow in?

What parts of your life do you not put under Christ’s Lordship? Why Not?

What’s more important: A relationship with Christ or Living based on The Scriptures?

/by

Luke Pt. 32: God’s Heart is Our Hope

Luke 15 is a famous chapter, it is best understood in the context of the previous chapters of the book of Luke, and the rest of scripture. This is Biblical Theology: Scripture understood in whole in order to get the complete picture of God and us.

Three stories: all illustrations of what Jesus has been teaching in previous chapters: The Lost Sheep, The Lost Coin and The Lost Child. In all three we see the heart of God for the lost AND for those who are His. The first two are more about God than us…but we can pull application. The third story is the application treasure trove: we can be as many as three characters!

Christ uses different examples to display His heart for those who are apart from Him. Jesus was addressing the Jewish leaders view of salvation being ‘Merit Based’. They believed they were earning God’s favor while others would not and could not be acceptable to God.

Jesus reveals God’s heart of compassion for the lost, His love should give us hope! He dosen’t give up on lost people, He rejoices over redeeming what is lost… so do ‘His Surrendered Disciples’! God (in coming as Jesus Christ) seeks & redeems what appear to be lost causes. Scripture consistently reveals God’s divine patience, mercy & grace. These three stories give us a great picture of God’s Heart, and it gives us hope!

Luke 15

1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

  • The Biblical Gospel (Christ’s Teachings) draws people from all walks of life
  • Religious Legalists like to decide who should get God’s favor
  • They want to discredit Christ so they can control (beware a judgmental spirit)

3 So he told them this parable: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

  • Common sense to go after a sheep that foolishly wanders away
  • Leaving the 99 sheep ‘in the open country’ is not being ‘reckless’ (Done Often)
  • He finds it brings it home & shares the joy with ‘His People’
  • The 99 are already found, & will stay found: John 10 ‘The Good Shepherd’

I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” ~ Jesus @ John 10:28-29

8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

  • The woman & shepherd are human expressions of the image of God
  • One coin may not seem like a bog deal…
  • She still had 90% of her wealth, shouldn’t 10% be considered acceptable loss?
  • One person entering the Kingdom is important to God, and His friends…

11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.

  • The whole inheritance thing is important
  • What was given was not accepted, rather he demanded ‘His Way’ of it
  • He sees the Father as a source of things rather than ‘The Thing’
  • The ‘Prosperity Gospel’ is not Biblical Theology
  • When dishonor the Father you will not be a good steward of what he gives you
  • God will let us have things that are not best for us so that we can learn!

14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

  • Sin can be enjoyable for a time…
  • Doing life ‘His Way’ brings him to the end of himself

17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’

  • He didn’t know the Father well or he would never have left
  • But he knew enough to try to go back… hat in hand, humbled by reality
  • Any place in the fathers house would do…he is ready to give up his rights

20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

  • Not just ‘went home’…he went to his father
  • The father was ever watchful for his child to return
  • He welcomes the lost child without reservation or judgement or condemnation
  • This is BEFORE the son humbles himself…God’s compassion is not reactive!
  • Repentance is admitting the wrong and giving up your rights

22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

  • The Father restores the lost child to it’s previous place (He didn’t keep score)
  • The celebration is to be shared by all of The Father’s People

25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’

  • The older son, dutiful and loyal sees the passionate celebration and is curious
  • When given the Good News, you would think he would react like The Father

28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’

  • The older son’s reaction is rooted in the same thinking as the Pharisees
  • He thinks he has earned something that was always given to him
  • He appeals to The Father to be ‘Just’… based on what he thinks is just
  • He basically says: ‘My Brother dosen’t deserve to be forgiven!’

31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”

  • The Father tells the older son: ‘You have always had what matters most: ME!’
  • I and my household will celebrate my grace because they know my grace

SUMMARY:

Jesus tells this story directly to The Pharisees & Scribes (Members of the Sanhedrin)

to rebuke them for how they view people who don’t know God as unredeemable.

God keeps his flock in safety (Eternally) and goes after the one WE might write off.

God doesn’t work in percentages, He works in individuals. Each has particular value.

God will allow you to blow up your life with choices that dishonor Him, there is no ‘forced grace’.

God will not give up on you, you can always go back to Him!

God’s people rejoice with Him when Biblical Salvation occurs in anyone & everyone!

Religious authorities want salvation to be earned so they can control it. (They think)

APPLICATION:

You are not the shepherd, woman or father; what can you understand about God from them?

Lost sheep: If you wandered off without realizing it, do you know your Father will come for you? 99 sheep: Do you stay where your Father puts you, spiritually, embracing Christ’s Discipleship? Shepherd’s Friends: Do rejoice with God & Heaven for the salvation of any who wandered off?

Lost Coin: You didn’t actively ‘get lost’… Can you trust God is relentless looking 4 U? Other Coins: How can you make sure you don’t take eternity with God for granted? Woman’s Friends: Do you rejoice with God & Heaven for the saving of anyone, no matter who?

Lost Son: If willful, knowing rebellion has you far from God; do you trust you can return? Father’s Household: Will you rejoice with God & Heaven for the salvation of one who left you? Older Brother / Pharisees: Do you think some deserve eternity and some don’t?

/by

Luke Pt. 31: The Costs of Christ’s Discipleship

The person who has influenced my walk with Christ more than any other human is Dietrich Bonhoeffer. His story is a challenge and his words a massive inspiration. When I first read the Cost of Discipleship, his seminal work, in 2005, I was rocked! It really informed and ultimately formed my vision of Christ’s Discipleship in my life. A Biblical vision for MY discipleship led to a Biblical vision for OTHER’S discipleship.

Two of the most important quotes from The Cost of Discipleship:

“When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.”

―Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

“Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock. Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: ‘Ye were bought at a price’, and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God.”
―Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

Ch14:15-35

15 Hearing this, a man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, “What a blessing it will be to attend a banquet in the Kingdom of God!” 16 Jesus replied with this story: “A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. 17 When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.”

  • Jesus is still having dinner at the home of the ‘Ruler of The Pharisees’
  • The man was desiring to be at the ‘resurrection of the righteous’
  • Jesus is explaining how you get there

18 But they all began making excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.’ 19 Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.’ 20 Another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’

  • These people are considered guests, they have already been invited
  • They begin to back out of their previous commitment
  • I can relate, I made some excuses for a couple of years…
  • The excuses are thing that make sense to this world’s view of what matters
  • Important things like working, stewardship of investments & a marriage

21 “The servant returned and told his master what they had said. His master was furious and said, ‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’

  • The Master is God (Banquet in the Kingdom of God)
  • This is not a story about some guy having a dinner
  • In context of everything that’s been happening so far and going forward in Luke
  • God is emotional / because the people who had said they were coming, bailed
  • Do they realize what they have been offered and are now taking for granted?

22 After the servant had done this, he reported, ‘There is still room for more.’ 23 So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full. 24 For none of those I first invited will get even the smallest taste of my banquet.’”

  • This is an expression of God’s grace, He has room for all who will come to Him
  • God kingdom is not entered by talk, it takes action
  • If the invitation is not accepted on God’s terms, the invite is not left open

This is Christ declaring that the invitation of salvation is not something to treat lightly

25 A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, 26 “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.

  • The scene has changed, and Christ continues tying discipleship to the Kingdom
  • The terms of His ‘Invitation’ are determined by Him: (His discipleship)
  • Relationally Jesus is to be primary, by comparison we hate everyone else

27 And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.

  • Jesus cannot be more direct, personal sacrifice is required
  • No one can do it for you, you must take ownership of your discipleship
  • Jesus will make no compromise, He sets the conditions for His discipleship

28 “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? 29 Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. 30 They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’

  • The nature of Christ’s Discipleship must be ‘whole hearted’ / ‘all in’ / ‘sold out’
  • The only way to get all in is to consider what it takes to be all in
  • Incomplete Discipleship is ‘Foolishness’ (why everyone laughs)

31 “Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him? 32 And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away.

  • When faced with the reality of the situation wisdom calls for surrender
  • Asking for terms of peace with Christ amounts to surrendering your life

33 So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.

  • The cost of Christ’s discipleship is everything we have
  • You must be willing to give up what Christ calls you to give, nothing less
  • The idea of ‘turning my life over to Jesus’ is Biblical Salvation

34 “Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? 35 Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown away. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!”

  • Salt has a purpose, if it does not fulfill it’s purpose it’s not salt.
  • Christ’s call to salvation is the call to His discipleship, the purpose of every Christian is Discipleship
  • Without discipleship there is no salvation: Christ’s discipleship = salvation
  • Christ’s Discipleship requires costs to be paid, are you willing to pay them?

SUMMARY:

The 1st cost of Christ’s discipleship is obedience to Christ’s calling; without excuse.

The 2nd cost of Christ’s discipleship is making your relationship with Him come first.

The 3rd cost of Christ’s discipleship is taking sole responsibility for your discipleship.

The 4th cost of Christ’s discipleship is the willingness to relinquish all possessions.

Without considering the costs of Christ’s discipleship you can’t give yourself fully to it.

Christ’s discipleship only comes at these costs; anything less is rejected by God.

The Biblical Gospel of Jesus Christ is one of ‘Costly Grace’. God’s Grace is worth it!

APPLICATION:

Do you rationalize or repent regarding excuses to avoid Christ’s call to discipleship?

What relationships have you placed above your relationship with Christ? Why?

How might you take more ownership of your discipleship? (Motivation or Execution)

Where are you in the process of ‘counting the costs’ of Christ’s discipleship?

ADDITIONAL STUDY: 2nd Timothy 3:1 – 4:8

/by

Luke Pt. 29: The Kingdom Of God

Luke 13:10-30

10 One Sabbath day as Jesus was teaching in a synagogue, 11 He saw a woman who had been crippled by an evil spirit. She had been bent double for eighteen years and was unable to stand up straight.

  • Change of scene from crowd to synagogue, where God should be understood
  • Christ was able to see the Spiritual dimension, it was being overlooked (18yrs)
  • Literal translation: Spirit of Weakness

12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Dear woman, you are healed of your sickness!” 13 Then he touched her, and instantly she could stand straight. How she praised God!

  • ‘Dear Woman’…He touched her: personal, intimate expressions of relationship
  • Her healing was total & instant (literal: ‘you are released from your weakness’)
  • Instant healing and instant, intense praising of God!
  • She recognized the power of God manifested in Christ

14 But the leader in charge of the synagogue was indignant that Jesus had healed her on the Sabbath day. “There are six days of the week for working,” he said to the crowd. “Come on those days to be healed, not on the Sabbath.”

  • The religious establishment does not recognize God’s power
  • This guy & his followers are more concerned with ‘protocol’ than people

15 But the Lord replied, “You hypocrites! Each of you works on the Sabbath day! Don’t you untie your ox or your donkey from its stall on the Sabbath and lead it out for water?

  • Jesus says to those who use religion for power & control: ‘You are an Actor’
  • They define work based on their lives / What we do is ok / Justification of sin
  • This is religious legalism, Rules rather than Relationship
  • If you don’t intentionally have Biblical Theology & Culture legalism

16 This dear woman, a daughter of Abraham, has been held in bondage by Satan for eighteen years. Isn’t it right that she be released, even on the Sabbath?” 17 This shamed his enemies, but all the people rejoiced at the wonderful things he did.

  • One of your own (Abraham reference) that you did nothing for
  • He asks why it matters how she is released rather than that she is released
  • They had shame, it was about who they were not just what they had done
  • Everyone else rejoiced: the only ones who didn’t rejoice were Christ’s enemies

18 Then Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like? How can I illustrate it? 19 It is like a tiny mustard seed that a man planted in a garden; it grows and becomes a tree, and the birds make nests in its branches.”

  • He had called out what the Kingdom of God is not like (legalism)
  • He illustrates what it IS LIKE: little actions that grow into big things

20 He also asked, “What else is the Kingdom of God like? 21 it is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.”

  • Next example of how God works: yeast! (longstanding biblical metaphor)
  • When God’s Kingdom become part of you it will effect everything you do
  • God’s work in us is not ‘compartmentalized’

22 Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he went, always pressing on toward Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” He replied, 24 “Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail.

  • Christ was about getting around and teaching; but He had a destination
  • The question is asked with a recognition that salvation is not ‘Universal’
  • ‘Work Hard’, better translation would be: ‘Do your best’ (Not about earning it)
  • Narrow door is one of many choices, narrow speaks of limited capacity
  • Bottom line: Many Will Fail !

25 When the master of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. You will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Lord, open the door for us!’ But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’

  • The Master (God) is the one who determines who can enter by the narrow door
  • People will want to go in and ask to go in (eternity with God)
  • But God will speak the truth: You are unfamiliar to ME

26 Then you will say, ‘But we ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 And he will reply, ‘I tell you, I don’t know you or where you come from. Get away from me, all you who do evil.’ 28 “There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, for you will see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God, but you will be thrown out.

  • Basically they say: we did life with You, You were here among us…
  • But God has chosen who He will bring into His kingdom / establish relationship
  • We are not in relationship (as HE defines it) and He will not be in their presence
  • Those who realize their fate will mourn / they will recognize the divide

29 And people will come from all over the world—from east and west, north and south—to take their places in the Kingdom of God. 30 And note this: Some who seem least important now will be the greatest then, and some who are the greatest now will be least important then.”

  • The Kingdom will be made up from people all over the world
  • Our way of evaluating who is important is shown to be opposite of God’s way
  • What matters to God is not what matters to the world / society / modern culture

SUMMARY:
Following Christ / God’s Kingdom, is about helping people where they are, not religious forms & rules.
God’s Kingdom is built by small faith-filled actions that grow into bigger things & influences.
God’s Kingdom ways lead us to an entrance into that Kingdom, it’s a specific way.
God’s Kingdom is not about being in the right place & doing things; it is a relationship
The inhabitants of God’s Kingdom will be diverse and without ‘worldly significance’.
APPLICATION:
How can we avoid making our ‘Religious Protocols’ more important than people?
What are some small actions you can take to seek and distribute God’s influence?
Is obedience to God’s Word analogous to the narrow door?
How can you move from being around God, to being in a deeper relationship with God?

/by

Luke Pt. 28: God’s Providence & Our Perceptions

We are a Body of people, a church that seeks to live more fully based on Scripture. The Word of God is our source of how we think and how we act. Now more than every, let us anchor our lives to God’s Word. When we look at a passage like this bit of Luke, what are we looking for? Truth! When we find God’s truth in Scripture what do we do with it? We commit to live by it, learn how to live by it…We let it change the way we think, feel and act.

Today’s Passage: What does Jesus Christ say about how God’s eternal saving grace is dished out? What does Christ say regarding salvation along family lines? Is the eternal division of family members a Biblical reality, whether we like it or not? Is our lifespan determined by our actions or by God’s sovereign providence? Can you take all the time you want when responding to God’s offer of saving grace? Serious questions… in the Scripture we find clear and understandable answers. Last Sunday the text in Luke 12 ended with this statement by Christ:

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 12:48b

Luke 12:49-59 & 13:1-9

49 “I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! 50 I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished!”

  • The fire He casts is the outpouring of God’s Spirit, indwelling Christ’s followers
  • This is His mission! To buy us back from hell through His sacrifice on the cross
  • He wants it to happen ASAP… but He will be obedient to the ‘Plan’
  • His ‘Baptism’ (what He will be immersed in) is paying the price for OUR sin!
  • Jesus knows what He will face and it weighs on Him, but it doesn’t deter Him

51 “Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. 52 For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

  • What He is going to do, Cross & Resurrection, makes some eternally different
  • God in His providence will grant eternal life based on HIS grace, not family
  • Christ speaks directly against universal salvation
  • Because some will be indwelled with God’s Spirit and some not, it will divide
  • He is exhaustive in His examples to show it will divide regardless of relationship

54 He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens. 55 And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens. 56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?”

  • We have intellect, information & experience we combine to understand things
  • He calls them hypocrites (Actors) because they act like they don’t get it
  • He is saying; ‘You have the info, now respond’ (Surrender)
  • Why don’t they know how to interpret who He is? The problem is PRIDE!

57 “And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? 58 As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison. 59 I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the very last penny.”

  • What keeps us from seeing what is right / God’s offer of eternal life in Christ?
  • Instead of admitting our guilt and humbling ourselves we want control
  • If you see it as ‘Your’ life to do as you wish you will face judgement
  • If you hold on to your life you will surely lose it. (parable looking at eternity)

“If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.” ~ Jesus @ Luke 9:24

1 At that very time Jesus was informed that Pilate had murdered some people from Galilee as they were offering sacrifices at the Temple. 2 “Do you think those Galileans were worse sinners than all the other people from Galilee?” Jesus asked. “Is that why they suffered? 3 Not at all! And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God.”

  • Some sort of announcement of a current event,
  • Jesus disconnects everyone’s time to go from everyone’s actions
  • Perishing: the end of this life without an eternal relationship with God (context)
  • We all will ‘Parish’ = eternity apart from God without repenting & turning to God

4 “And what about the eighteen people who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them? Were they the worst sinners in Jerusalem? 5 No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will perish, too.”

  • 2nd example of why people die & how we should perceive God’s providence
  • Those who know God & those who don’t will be mixed together, even in death

Matthew 13: Parable of the wheat & the weeds. The divide between the ‘repentant’ and the ‘perishing’ is the indwelling of God’s Spirit.

6 Then Jesus told this story: “A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. 7 Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.’

  • You could be a fig tree in God’s garden, brought there by HIS providence
  • God has an expectation that you will produce fruit (kingdom living & purpose)
  • The Man & the Gardener are God speaking within His Triunity
  • There has been a certain amount of patience with this tree ‘taking up space’

8 “The gardener answered, ‘Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. 9 If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.’”

  • God in His grace always gives more chances than any of us deserve
  • But those chances do have a predestined end to them, based on God’s will
  • Are you a fig tree in God’s garden? Where are you in the process described?

SUMMARY:

Jesus was both humanly anxious and divinely resigned to accomplish His mission.

Christ’s work on the cross will bring about division in families because of God’s Spirit.

Now that the Gospel has been revealed, we are to respond.

Humility is the only way to escape judgement.

None of us know when we will die, we have a closing window to get ‘right with Christ’.

God is patient, but not infinitely patient, at some point the patience ends.

APPLICATION:

How might you better practice humility before God in your relationships?

How do you react to God’s providence when it is not what you would prefer?

In what ways are you accountable to respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ today?

How can you do more of what God requires of you based on what you have been given?

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Luke pt. 27: Who’s That At The Door?

  • When was the last unexpected visit you had from a relative or friend?
  • Were you ready?
  • What did you do when you saw them at the door?
  • What did you pick up first?
  • What were you wearing?
  • Did you run to the mirror?
  • Did you brush your teeth?
  • Men, did you smell your underarm?

Luke 12:35-48

35 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning,
36 like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him

37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes.
Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will
come and wait on them

38 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in
the middle of the night or toward daybreak.

39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was
coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.
40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
41 Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?”

42 The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master
puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time?
43 It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns.
44 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

45 But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’
and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and
drink and get drunk.
46 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

47 “The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do
what the master wants will be beaten with many blows.
48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

Application questions:

  • What are you doing with your life to be prepared for Christ’s return?
  • Will He catch you sleeping and not looking?
  • Will He find you beating His people?
  • Will you have a meal prepared for Him and welcome Him in?
  • Will you welcome Him in and begin to introduce Him to those you are discipling?
  • What stories will you share about Your God delivered you from danager?

Sermon by Woody Johnson

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