Today, we will be looking at the seventh parable in Luke's Gospel, found in chapter 12:13-21. It is one of those parables that will harden your heart or break your heart, but it will not leave your heart the same. It is one of those parables that will open your eyes or blind your eyes, but it will not leave your eyes unchanged. It is one of those parables that will sharpen your ears or dull your ears, but it will not leave your ears the same. It is one of those parables that will totally turn your way of life upside down and revolutionize your walk with God, or it will drive you even further away from His heart and His Kingdom. This parable is so powerful because it is so easy for us to identify with in America today. It paints of a picture of what it means to be an American, and sadly, what it means to be an American "Christian."
What instigates this parable is the shout of someone in the crowd. "Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." Tell my brother to give me my money!
Stop! Let's think about this a minute. Jesus is on his way to the cross. He has washed his hands as far as material things are concerned. Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but he has no where to lay his head. He has come to bring people to God, not to bring property to people. But since the man brought it up, Jesus spoke to his issue. Guard against all covetousness! Literally take heed, beware, guard yourself. Jesus is not talking about making a defensive move. He is not talking about defending yourself from these urges when they come your way. He is talking about taking an offensive move, which is clear from the literal Greek. This is taking positive action to ward off a foe. It is kind of like building a high fence around your property. You take the first stop to guard your family. It is an offensive maneuver. Whereas, fighting off an intruder because you didn't have a fence, would be a defensive move. Jesus is saying, don't fight it off when it comes. Take action to keep it away! Go on the offensive. Take heed against ALL covetousness: All kinds of greed. Greed becomes so consuming that all of life becomes focused on the accumulation of wealth. Someone once asked one of the Rockefeller's, "How much money is enough?" His answer: "Always a little bit more." Greed becomes so consuming that all of life becomes focused on the accumulation of wealth. There is no room for anything else, not even God. So, Jesus says, guard against greed and covetousness because they will blind your eyes and dull your ears to more important matters and that is exactly what happened to this guy! Back up to the verses before he interrupts Jesus in verse 13. Look at what Jesus is talking about.
"I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. 5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows. 8 "And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, 9 but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. 10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 11 And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say."
Then all of a sudden, after being told to fear God, after being told to have faith, after being told to be sure he acknowledges the Son of God before his fellow men, and after being warned about the unpardonable sin, he buts in with, "Tell my brother to give me my share of the inheritance." What part of Jesus' message did he miss? All of it! This guy cannot wait for Jesus to stop talking about spiritual matters and eternity and get to the good stuff! Material things! His inheritance! How could he!? How could we? Let's examine the petitions that we bring to Jesus: health, wealth, and temporal happiness for the most part. Let's think about where our mind wanders during the preaching of the Word of God and during study of God's Word? To work...to bills...to finances etc. That is why Jesus reminds us that the meaning and purpose of life is not found in the accumulation of wealth and possessions (verse 15). How desperately we need to be on guard that we don't get wrapped up in prosperity and pursuing possessions, prosperity, and the pleasures that this world offers. Next time we will see the parable that helps Jesus drive home this important and relevant point. Until next time...
Monday, March 30, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
The Promise of Prayer
We have been encountered by some great motivation to pray in this parable. We have been motivated by the person of Christ. We have been motivated by a parable told by Christ. Now, let us be motivated by the promise given by Christ in verses 9-13. Jesus said,
And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
ESV
He tells us to Ask, Seek, and Knock. The three words are all commands…not suggestions. We are instructed to pray! We are instructed to ask, to seek, and to knock. The tense of the verbs in Greek describe a continuous action; keep on asking, keep on seeking, and keep on knocking. Each of the commands gets a little more serious and confrontational. Each word is a little more intense than the word preceding it. You can ask, and you can even seek. You can even knock (bang) on the door, and you should. Why? Because, everyone who asks receives, everyone who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. This is indeed one of the greatest promises concerning prayer in all of the Bible.
There are other promises concerning prayer all throughout the Word. For example, Matt 18:19 says, "if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven." Matt 21:22 says, "And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith." Jesus said in Mark 11:24, "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. He said in John 14:13-14, "Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it." The promise of prayer is that He will hear and He will answer! Think about this. We have access to the God of the universe! We have access to the Omnipresent, Omniscient, All wise, Omnipotent, Almighty, Sovereign God of all creation! He has given us access to Him through the blood of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ! He has promised to hear and to answer our petitions. That is motivation to pray! We read in Jer 29:11-13, For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me. When you seek me with all your heart."
Before we close, we need to stop to be sure we understand the point of Prayer. In these promises concerning prayer, is Jesus giving us a blank check? No. This is not a blank check. It's already been qualified by verses 2 through 4, hasn't it? Here's how you pray (the Model Prayer). The point of prayer is not to change God's mind. God is Sovereign. Listen to what he says in the following Scriptures.
Prov 19:21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.
Isa 14:24 The Lord of hosts has sworn: "As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand,
Isa 46:9-10 Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,'
God has ordained the end as well as the means to the end. Prayer is not about changing God's mind. It's not about changing God's plans. It's not about giving Him information He doesn't have. God has got it all figured out. He is sovereign. So why even pray? What is the point of prayer? Here is the point: Through prayer, we can be used by God. Prayer is not about changing God's mind. It is about changing our hearts. When our hearts are changed, then we see Him, His will, His purposes and then we join Him. We don't pray our will….we pray His. Someone has said, "Prayer is surrender--surrender to the will of God and cooperation with that will. If I throw out a boathook from the boat and catch hold of the shore and pull, do I pull the shore to me, or do I pull myself to the shore? Prayer is not pulling God to my will, but the aligning of my will to the will of God."
Oh how we need to pray. If we are ever to see a move of God, we must pray. I am asking you to pray for the following needs throughout April.
Pray for the men who are on the mission trip to Columbus, MS this week.
Pray for the mission trip to India April 20-30.
Pray for the Mappila people of Kozhikode India that God would begin preparing their hearts and their minds to hear and respond to His Gospel. Many Muslims around the world are having dreams and visions of Jesus just prior to the arrival of a mission team. Pray that the Mappila Muslims of Kozhikode will begin having dreams and visions that will encourage them to seek the truth.
Pray for the men who will travel to the DR in May
Will you be a watchman on the walls for these requests?
Isa 62:6-7 On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have set watchmen; all the day and all the night they shall never be silent. You who put the Lord in remembrance, take no rest, and give him no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it a praise in the earth.
Please forward this along to everyone in your inbox to ask them to help us pray.
And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
ESV
He tells us to Ask, Seek, and Knock. The three words are all commands…not suggestions. We are instructed to pray! We are instructed to ask, to seek, and to knock. The tense of the verbs in Greek describe a continuous action; keep on asking, keep on seeking, and keep on knocking. Each of the commands gets a little more serious and confrontational. Each word is a little more intense than the word preceding it. You can ask, and you can even seek. You can even knock (bang) on the door, and you should. Why? Because, everyone who asks receives, everyone who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. This is indeed one of the greatest promises concerning prayer in all of the Bible.
There are other promises concerning prayer all throughout the Word. For example, Matt 18:19 says, "if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven." Matt 21:22 says, "And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith." Jesus said in Mark 11:24, "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. He said in John 14:13-14, "Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it." The promise of prayer is that He will hear and He will answer! Think about this. We have access to the God of the universe! We have access to the Omnipresent, Omniscient, All wise, Omnipotent, Almighty, Sovereign God of all creation! He has given us access to Him through the blood of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ! He has promised to hear and to answer our petitions. That is motivation to pray! We read in Jer 29:11-13, For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me. When you seek me with all your heart."
Before we close, we need to stop to be sure we understand the point of Prayer. In these promises concerning prayer, is Jesus giving us a blank check? No. This is not a blank check. It's already been qualified by verses 2 through 4, hasn't it? Here's how you pray (the Model Prayer). The point of prayer is not to change God's mind. God is Sovereign. Listen to what he says in the following Scriptures.
Prov 19:21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.
Isa 14:24 The Lord of hosts has sworn: "As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand,
Isa 46:9-10 Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,'
God has ordained the end as well as the means to the end. Prayer is not about changing God's mind. It's not about changing God's plans. It's not about giving Him information He doesn't have. God has got it all figured out. He is sovereign. So why even pray? What is the point of prayer? Here is the point: Through prayer, we can be used by God. Prayer is not about changing God's mind. It is about changing our hearts. When our hearts are changed, then we see Him, His will, His purposes and then we join Him. We don't pray our will….we pray His. Someone has said, "Prayer is surrender--surrender to the will of God and cooperation with that will. If I throw out a boathook from the boat and catch hold of the shore and pull, do I pull the shore to me, or do I pull myself to the shore? Prayer is not pulling God to my will, but the aligning of my will to the will of God."
Oh how we need to pray. If we are ever to see a move of God, we must pray. I am asking you to pray for the following needs throughout April.
Pray for the men who are on the mission trip to Columbus, MS this week.
Pray for the mission trip to India April 20-30.
Pray for the Mappila people of Kozhikode India that God would begin preparing their hearts and their minds to hear and respond to His Gospel. Many Muslims around the world are having dreams and visions of Jesus just prior to the arrival of a mission team. Pray that the Mappila Muslims of Kozhikode will begin having dreams and visions that will encourage them to seek the truth.
Pray for the men who will travel to the DR in May
Will you be a watchman on the walls for these requests?
Isa 62:6-7 On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have set watchmen; all the day and all the night they shall never be silent. You who put the Lord in remembrance, take no rest, and give him no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it a praise in the earth.
Please forward this along to everyone in your inbox to ask them to help us pray.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
The Parable of Prayer
Last time we saw the person who motivates us to prayer. Today, let us look at the parable that Jesus told in hopes of motivating and moving us to pray. He shares the parable in verses 5-8.
Luke 11:5-8
And he said to them, "Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves, 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; 7 and he will answer from within, 'Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything'? 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs
ESV
This is one of the more humorous and entertaining parables in the Bible. It is the parable of the persistent friend. This poor man who had this guest arrive at midnight at his house is between a rock and a hard place. He was in a dilemma. He could be a poor host or, he could be a poor neighbor. Being a poor host was not an option because hospitality was a priority in this culture. So, he goes next door in the middle of the night to disturb his neighbor.
His neighbor awakes to the knock on the door. There must be some kind of emergency! But this is not an emergency. He isn't saying, "My wife is having a baby!" He is not saying, "Someone is dying or is injured." He's not saying, "We've got a robber in the house." It is in the middle of the night and he says, "I want these three loaves (literally just 3 flat pieces of bread).
I am thinking this neighbor is extremely irritated. This is not emergency, and my door has already been shut. This door that had already been shut, was not a door like we would think of. Sometimes doors actually dropped through rings, a combination of metal and iron and removing it was not simple. It would be loud and there was a whole family in there. They had a big mat in a one-room house and they were all finally asleep! I am not waking them up for anyone, especially over 3 loaves of bread. After all, would he die if he waited till breakfast? Use some hospitable psychology on the guy. Tell him, you've been on a long journey, you're probably tired, just lay down. He'll fall asleep before he knows it and forget he's even hungry. Just leave me alone and let me get back to sleep before you awaken my family.
But… there's really no sense in not getting up because he's not going away. The Bible says he was troublesomely urgent, overly persistent: It is a word that conveys an annoying relentlessness. What happened here was this guy finally got out of bed and gave the man what he wanted because he was annoyingly persistent. He was overly persistent. He was troublesomely urgent; what the word literally means is shamelessness, somebody who just sets aside all sense of shame.
Jesus is saying, Pray like this! Pray without ceasing. Don't give up. John MacArthur says, "The picture here is of shameless nerve, boldness, importunity, things that seem almost ludicrous to us going into the presence of the God of the universe. But our Lord is teaching us how to be invasive, how to be bold in our prayers." Jesus is giving us permission to boldly approach the throne of grace, by His blood. I would ask that you do that. Pray for me, for our staff at Cleary, for revival among the church, and an awakening among the community, and this nation. Also I am asking you to pray for the following needs throughout April. Will you be a watchman on the walls for these requests?
Isa 62:6-7 On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have set watchmen; all the day and all the night they shall never be silent. You who put the Lord in remembrance, take no rest, and give him no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it a praise in the earth.
Pray for the men who are on the mission trip to Columbus, MS this week.
Pray for me as I conclude the revival services at Oakview Wednesday night.
Pray for the mission trip to India April 20-30.
Pray for the Mappila people of Kozhikode India that God would begin preparing their hearts and their minds to hear and respond to His Gospel. Many Muslims around the world are having dreams and visions of Jesus just prior to the arrival of a mission team. Pray that the Mappila Muslims of Kozhikode will begin having dreams and visions that will encourage them to seek the truth.
Pray for the men who will travel to the DR in May
Please forward this along to everyone in your inbox to ask them to help us pray.
Luke 11:5-8
And he said to them, "Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves, 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; 7 and he will answer from within, 'Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything'? 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs
ESV
This is one of the more humorous and entertaining parables in the Bible. It is the parable of the persistent friend. This poor man who had this guest arrive at midnight at his house is between a rock and a hard place. He was in a dilemma. He could be a poor host or, he could be a poor neighbor. Being a poor host was not an option because hospitality was a priority in this culture. So, he goes next door in the middle of the night to disturb his neighbor.
His neighbor awakes to the knock on the door. There must be some kind of emergency! But this is not an emergency. He isn't saying, "My wife is having a baby!" He is not saying, "Someone is dying or is injured." He's not saying, "We've got a robber in the house." It is in the middle of the night and he says, "I want these three loaves (literally just 3 flat pieces of bread).
I am thinking this neighbor is extremely irritated. This is not emergency, and my door has already been shut. This door that had already been shut, was not a door like we would think of. Sometimes doors actually dropped through rings, a combination of metal and iron and removing it was not simple. It would be loud and there was a whole family in there. They had a big mat in a one-room house and they were all finally asleep! I am not waking them up for anyone, especially over 3 loaves of bread. After all, would he die if he waited till breakfast? Use some hospitable psychology on the guy. Tell him, you've been on a long journey, you're probably tired, just lay down. He'll fall asleep before he knows it and forget he's even hungry. Just leave me alone and let me get back to sleep before you awaken my family.
But… there's really no sense in not getting up because he's not going away. The Bible says he was troublesomely urgent, overly persistent: It is a word that conveys an annoying relentlessness. What happened here was this guy finally got out of bed and gave the man what he wanted because he was annoyingly persistent. He was overly persistent. He was troublesomely urgent; what the word literally means is shamelessness, somebody who just sets aside all sense of shame.
Jesus is saying, Pray like this! Pray without ceasing. Don't give up. John MacArthur says, "The picture here is of shameless nerve, boldness, importunity, things that seem almost ludicrous to us going into the presence of the God of the universe. But our Lord is teaching us how to be invasive, how to be bold in our prayers." Jesus is giving us permission to boldly approach the throne of grace, by His blood. I would ask that you do that. Pray for me, for our staff at Cleary, for revival among the church, and an awakening among the community, and this nation. Also I am asking you to pray for the following needs throughout April. Will you be a watchman on the walls for these requests?
Isa 62:6-7 On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have set watchmen; all the day and all the night they shall never be silent. You who put the Lord in remembrance, take no rest, and give him no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it a praise in the earth.
Pray for the men who are on the mission trip to Columbus, MS this week.
Pray for me as I conclude the revival services at Oakview Wednesday night.
Pray for the mission trip to India April 20-30.
Pray for the Mappila people of Kozhikode India that God would begin preparing their hearts and their minds to hear and respond to His Gospel. Many Muslims around the world are having dreams and visions of Jesus just prior to the arrival of a mission team. Pray that the Mappila Muslims of Kozhikode will begin having dreams and visions that will encourage them to seek the truth.
Pray for the men who will travel to the DR in May
Please forward this along to everyone in your inbox to ask them to help us pray.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Be a Watchman on the Walls: Pray!
As we enter the seventh week of this series, "Secrets of the Kingdom, Parables in Luke's Gospel" we stumble upon one of the more humorous parables that Jesus told. It is a parable that drives home the importance of a much neglected subject: prayer. How desperately we need to be reminded and motivated and moved to pray!! E.M. Bounds said, "What the church needs today is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use; men of prayer, men mighty in prayer." Martin Luther said, "Pray as though everything depends upon God and then work as though everything depends upon you." It is much easier to work than it is to pray, because prayer is the real work! We must learn to pray before we go to work! John Bunyan said, "You can do more than pray after you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed."
We need prayer. In Luke 11:1-13, we see the disciples being motivated and moved to pray. There are three ways that the disciples were motivate in Luke 11 that we will see this week and that I hope will motivate us all to devote ourselves to prayer.
First, we see the disciples motivated by a Person. The greatest motivation to pray is found in the example of Jesus Himself. Jesus was God, but he was also man, and he was a man who made prayer a priority. If Jesus, God in the flesh, saw fit to pray as much as he prayed, we should be motivated to pray as well. It was actually this personal example of prayer that motivated His disciples to pray in this chapter.
Jesus was a man of prayer. We see him praying as he is baptized in the Jordan by John. We see the heavens open, the Holy Spirit descend on him in bodily form, and voice testify from heaven, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased. Jesus began his ministry with a 40 day fast in the wilderness. In Luke 5:16 we learn that "he would withdraw to desolate places and pray." He prayed all night long before he chose the 12 disciples that he named apostles. He prayed over the 5 loaves and the 2 fish and was able to feed 5000 with it and still have 12 baskets of leftovers. He was on the mountain praying when the appearance of His face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white and He was seen talking with Moses and Elijah. The disciples witnessed all of this and finally in Luke 11, verse 1 they say, "Lord, teach us to pray."
The disciples are moved to want to pray like Jesus prayed. How did He teach them to pray? There were six areas of prayer that He instructed them to focus on. I will list them just briefly.
1. The Person of prayer is the Father in v2a, "And he said to them,"When you pray, say: Father."
2. The Praise of prayer is pointed out in verse 2b, "hallowed be your name."
3. The Priority of prayer is identified in verse 2c, "Your kingdom come."
4. The Provision of prayer is described in verse 3, "Give us each day our daily bread."
5. The Pardon of prayer is found in verse 4a, "and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us."
6. The Protection of prayer is found in verse 4b, "And lead us not into temptation."
We must learn to pray, as Jesus taught us to pray, focusing on what he taught us to focus on. We must follow His example in prayer. We must understand the person of prayer, for it is in that person, the Lord Jesus Christ, that we find great motivation and encouragement to pray.
Here are some things that I would love for you to pray for. Will you be a watchman on the walls for these requests?
Isa 62:6-7 On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have set watchmen; all the day and all the night they shall never be silent. You who put the Lord in remembrance, take no rest, and give him no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it a praise in the earth.
Pray for the men who are on the mission trip to Columbus, MS this week.
Pray for the team that is returning from the DR Tuesday
Pray for me as I am in revival at Oakview this week.
Pray for the mission trip to India April 20-30.
Pray for the Mappila people of Kozhikode India that God would begin preparing their hearts and their minds to hear and respond to His Gospel. Many Muslims around the world are having dreams and visions of Jesus just prior to the arrival of a mission team. Pray that the Mappila Muslims of Kozhikode will begin having dreams and visions that will encourage them to seek the truth.
Pray for the men who will travel to the DR in May
Please forward this along to everyone in your inbox to ask them to help us pray.
We need prayer. In Luke 11:1-13, we see the disciples being motivated and moved to pray. There are three ways that the disciples were motivate in Luke 11 that we will see this week and that I hope will motivate us all to devote ourselves to prayer.
First, we see the disciples motivated by a Person. The greatest motivation to pray is found in the example of Jesus Himself. Jesus was God, but he was also man, and he was a man who made prayer a priority. If Jesus, God in the flesh, saw fit to pray as much as he prayed, we should be motivated to pray as well. It was actually this personal example of prayer that motivated His disciples to pray in this chapter.
Jesus was a man of prayer. We see him praying as he is baptized in the Jordan by John. We see the heavens open, the Holy Spirit descend on him in bodily form, and voice testify from heaven, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased. Jesus began his ministry with a 40 day fast in the wilderness. In Luke 5:16 we learn that "he would withdraw to desolate places and pray." He prayed all night long before he chose the 12 disciples that he named apostles. He prayed over the 5 loaves and the 2 fish and was able to feed 5000 with it and still have 12 baskets of leftovers. He was on the mountain praying when the appearance of His face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white and He was seen talking with Moses and Elijah. The disciples witnessed all of this and finally in Luke 11, verse 1 they say, "Lord, teach us to pray."
The disciples are moved to want to pray like Jesus prayed. How did He teach them to pray? There were six areas of prayer that He instructed them to focus on. I will list them just briefly.
1. The Person of prayer is the Father in v2a, "And he said to them,"When you pray, say: Father."
2. The Praise of prayer is pointed out in verse 2b, "hallowed be your name."
3. The Priority of prayer is identified in verse 2c, "Your kingdom come."
4. The Provision of prayer is described in verse 3, "Give us each day our daily bread."
5. The Pardon of prayer is found in verse 4a, "and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us."
6. The Protection of prayer is found in verse 4b, "And lead us not into temptation."
We must learn to pray, as Jesus taught us to pray, focusing on what he taught us to focus on. We must follow His example in prayer. We must understand the person of prayer, for it is in that person, the Lord Jesus Christ, that we find great motivation and encouragement to pray.
Here are some things that I would love for you to pray for. Will you be a watchman on the walls for these requests?
Isa 62:6-7 On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have set watchmen; all the day and all the night they shall never be silent. You who put the Lord in remembrance, take no rest, and give him no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it a praise in the earth.
Pray for the men who are on the mission trip to Columbus, MS this week.
Pray for the team that is returning from the DR Tuesday
Pray for me as I am in revival at Oakview this week.
Pray for the mission trip to India April 20-30.
Pray for the Mappila people of Kozhikode India that God would begin preparing their hearts and their minds to hear and respond to His Gospel. Many Muslims around the world are having dreams and visions of Jesus just prior to the arrival of a mission team. Pray that the Mappila Muslims of Kozhikode will begin having dreams and visions that will encourage them to seek the truth.
Pray for the men who will travel to the DR in May
Please forward this along to everyone in your inbox to ask them to help us pray.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
The Parable of the Good Samaritan, Part 2
We have taken a look at the context of the parable of the Good Samaritan as well as it's content. We finally see the Conclusion of the Parable in verses 36-37. Jesus asks, "Which of the 3 proved to be a neighbor?" On the surface the story seems like a simple story about being kind and neighborly. It isn't. The story is told to a non-believer, a self-righteous, pride filled, religious man who will not enter the Kingdom of God. This is why he used a priest and a Levite. They didn't love God, first of all, because if you loved God you keep His commands. So they didn't love God to start with and also, they didn't love their neighbor because there's one right there and they have a perfect opportunity to demonstrate it and they don't. So being religious, doing all the ceremonies, being Jewish, being religious, being a priest or a Levite isn't going to get you into the Kingdom of God.
So Jesus says to the lawyer, "Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor?" Rather than answer the lawyers question, the Lord forced the man to answer a much more pointed question: Am I a neighbor? Immediately Jesus has turned the question on its head. He asked, "Who is my neighbor?" Jesus turned it around. Instead of talking about who qualifies to be your neighbor, let's talk about you being neighborly. Which of the three was a neighbor? The lawyer answered, quietly I am sure, "The one who showed mercy." And Jesus said to him, Go and do the same. Here is the answer to the first question. Here is how you inherit eternal life…let us assume that you are right…you do love God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength. Well, you must love your neighbor as yourself…you must be a neighbor…like this man. Now you know what the Bible means when it says you have to love your neighbor? You want eternal life? How are you going to get it? Love God and love your neighbor. That's what it takes all the time to earn your way into God's Kingdom. You say, "Well, I saw a stranger one time in need and I helped him." Do you think that deserves applause? Did you ever see a stranger in need, somebody you didn't know, better yet somebody who was your enemy and you went over, ministered to all his needs,gave him everything he needed, stayed with him, took him somewhere, put him to bed, fed him, stayed all night to make sure that he was recovering, and then paid for his care for up to two months and said if it's more than this, when I come back I'll give you all the rest? Have you ever done that for anybody? And not just anybody…but your enemies? Jesus said in Luke 6:32-36, "You love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful." You must love not only your friends, but your enemies this way and the real catch is, you must do it this way your entire life!
Now, have you always done that….your whole life? Never fluctuating in your love for God and your love for your fellow men? I'll tell you one person you have done that for. You! That's how we care for ourselves, isn't it?
Jesus said, go and do the same.
Now, what is Jesus' response supposed to do? Produce what? Acts of kindness? That is nice…a good by-product, but not the point. What this parable is meant to bring is conviction. He's giving this lawyer one more opportunity to say, "Jesus, I don't love like that. I can't love like that. I never will love like that. I'll never get in the Kingdom, if that's what's required. And that is what is required! So, how many of us are going to make it? I know that if this is what it requires for me to get in heaven, I'm not getting there. You see, I have repeatedly broken these 2 commands: Loving God with 100%, 100% of the time and Loving others like I love myself 100% of the time. I cannot argue with Romans 3:23, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." I have broken the 2 greatest commandments, therefore I have committed the 2 greatest sins. Rom 6:23 makes clear that "the wages of sin is death." The good news? " but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." You see, Jesus came and fulfilled the law. He did live an absolutely sinless, perfect life of complete love. Then, he took our sin upon himself and gave his life on the cross of Calvary to dispose of our sins, iniquities, and transgressions. In essence, our sin died with Him. We died with Him. Then, he imparted new life to us through his resurrection. He rose again and offers us life in Him! We can have our sin removed and we can be given new life thorugh Christ by grace through faith. And since you and me will never love like this (like Sammy the Samaritan), this is the only way that we can ever dream of inheriting eternal life: by grace, through faith in the sacrificial death, burial, and resurrection of the one who was and is and ever will be perfect: Jesus Christ. Repent and believe today. That is our only hope and that is the message of this parable…the true message.
So Jesus says to the lawyer, "Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor?" Rather than answer the lawyers question, the Lord forced the man to answer a much more pointed question: Am I a neighbor? Immediately Jesus has turned the question on its head. He asked, "Who is my neighbor?" Jesus turned it around. Instead of talking about who qualifies to be your neighbor, let's talk about you being neighborly. Which of the three was a neighbor? The lawyer answered, quietly I am sure, "The one who showed mercy." And Jesus said to him, Go and do the same. Here is the answer to the first question. Here is how you inherit eternal life…let us assume that you are right…you do love God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength. Well, you must love your neighbor as yourself…you must be a neighbor…like this man. Now you know what the Bible means when it says you have to love your neighbor? You want eternal life? How are you going to get it? Love God and love your neighbor. That's what it takes all the time to earn your way into God's Kingdom. You say, "Well, I saw a stranger one time in need and I helped him." Do you think that deserves applause? Did you ever see a stranger in need, somebody you didn't know, better yet somebody who was your enemy and you went over, ministered to all his needs,gave him everything he needed, stayed with him, took him somewhere, put him to bed, fed him, stayed all night to make sure that he was recovering, and then paid for his care for up to two months and said if it's more than this, when I come back I'll give you all the rest? Have you ever done that for anybody? And not just anybody…but your enemies? Jesus said in Luke 6:32-36, "You love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful." You must love not only your friends, but your enemies this way and the real catch is, you must do it this way your entire life!
Now, have you always done that….your whole life? Never fluctuating in your love for God and your love for your fellow men? I'll tell you one person you have done that for. You! That's how we care for ourselves, isn't it?
Jesus said, go and do the same.
Now, what is Jesus' response supposed to do? Produce what? Acts of kindness? That is nice…a good by-product, but not the point. What this parable is meant to bring is conviction. He's giving this lawyer one more opportunity to say, "Jesus, I don't love like that. I can't love like that. I never will love like that. I'll never get in the Kingdom, if that's what's required. And that is what is required! So, how many of us are going to make it? I know that if this is what it requires for me to get in heaven, I'm not getting there. You see, I have repeatedly broken these 2 commands: Loving God with 100%, 100% of the time and Loving others like I love myself 100% of the time. I cannot argue with Romans 3:23, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." I have broken the 2 greatest commandments, therefore I have committed the 2 greatest sins. Rom 6:23 makes clear that "the wages of sin is death." The good news? " but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." You see, Jesus came and fulfilled the law. He did live an absolutely sinless, perfect life of complete love. Then, he took our sin upon himself and gave his life on the cross of Calvary to dispose of our sins, iniquities, and transgressions. In essence, our sin died with Him. We died with Him. Then, he imparted new life to us through his resurrection. He rose again and offers us life in Him! We can have our sin removed and we can be given new life thorugh Christ by grace through faith. And since you and me will never love like this (like Sammy the Samaritan), this is the only way that we can ever dream of inheriting eternal life: by grace, through faith in the sacrificial death, burial, and resurrection of the one who was and is and ever will be perfect: Jesus Christ. Repent and believe today. That is our only hope and that is the message of this parable…the true message.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
Luke 10:25-37
As we continue in this series, "Secrets of the Kingdom: Parables in Luke's Gospel" we now come to one of the most popular parables in all of God's Word. It is one of those stories that you learn in children's Sunday school, Vacation Bible Schools, and sermons. It is one of those stories that makes its way into children's Bible Story Books, coloring books, and Christian activity books. It is a parable that has even made its way into secular society in many ways, but it is a parable that I think has been misapplied more than any other parable in all of the Word of God. It is the parable of the Good Samaritan and it is found in Luke 10:25-37. Let us look at this popular parable that has been misinterpreted and misapplied for decades, if not centuries.
The first thing that we need to see is the Context of the Parable. We discover the parable's context in verses 25-29. If we are going to understand the parable, we must understand the context of the story. Sometimes our familiarity may cause us to think we know what a story really is about and what it was intended to convey, when in fact we don't. We have a tendency to let the Word go in one ear and out the other because, we have heard it all before. This is a story, for most people, about helping someone in need. That's not really the point. This is really a story about how one inherits eternal life because that is the question that initiated the entire conversation in this scripture.
Jesus is asked, what shall I do to inherit eternal life. This lawyer wanted a list of do's and don'ts to follow. The problem however is not so much what you do or don’t do. The problem is who you are! But, Jesus humors him: let us focus on what you must do to inherit eternal life. "What does the Bible say?" he asks. The lawyer replies with the Great Commandment: Love God and love your neighbor. The lawyer clearly had a deep insight into the Scriptures when he could sum up the Law in this way. Now notice what Jesus says to his answer. You have answered correctly! You asked what you should do to inherit eternal life. You answered that you thought you should love God and love your neighbor, and Jesus says….correct! The question arises, Would Jesus mislead this man? Would he lie to him about how to gain eternal life? Of course Jesus could not lie, therefore this must be true and it is. If you live your entire life loving God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength and loving your neighbor like you love yourself…never for one moment fluctuating in your love, you would be perfect! You would never have sinned against God and you would never have sinned against your fellow man. You would be perfect and would therefore inherit eternal life.
Then the lawyer begins to asses himself, and assess himself wrongly! He said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" For most Jews a neighbor was another Jew, not a Samaritan or a Gentile. The Pharisees did not even include all Jews. He said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" He jumped over the loving God part. I'm okay with God.
There is nothing there I need to deal with and I'm okay with my neighbor unless, you have another definition of neighbor. Jesus at that point could have just dismissed him. Instead, he's going to give him one more insight into his own sinfulness. He is going to try one more time to show him his true position before God as a violator of God's Law and one who neither loves God or his neighbor. He will do that through a parable.
We have seen the context of this parable that Jesus shares. Now let us see the Content of the Parable. We read the parable's content in verses 30-35. Remember that a parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. This is not a true story, this didn't happen. This particular priest never existed. The Levite never existed. The Samaritan never existed. Jesus made them up!
To be sure that you understand that these are fictional characters, I have given them fictional names…to help act out the scene. The first person we meet, I call Jerry the Jew. We meet him in verse 30. He is beaten, robbed, and left for dead. He was in the process of dying and he was already half-way there. Obviously Jerry is in desperate need for help in this kind of condition on a lonely road. There could be a lot of time pass before anybody came along and there was no guarantee that someone would find him or help him. But then comes along, who I call, Patrick the Priest. We meet Patrick in verse 31. Thank God! Here comes a priest! This is a servant of God, one who offered sacrifices for people in the temple, one who lifted the people up before God, the best of men, and someone who is righteous. He knew the scriptures. He had read Ex 23:4-5 If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you shall bring it back to him. If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying down under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it; you shall rescue it with him. He knew Mic 6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Surely he is a godsend! But, he passed by him on the other side. Jesus uses a verb that has in it the word "anti"to strengthen it, which means that he literally went the opposite direction. Hope fades, but then we meet another character.
Larry the Levite is introduced in verse 32. There is still hope. You see, Levites came from Levi, but not from Aaron so they were lower on the ladder. They were assistants to the priests. The Levites great duty was to preserve the law of God from any form of attack and to see that its requirements were kept. They should have known what the priests knew as well, but…..he passed Jerry the Jew by as well. Hope fades even more, but then another man approaches. There is hope! Who could it be? Oh no! All hope is gone because it is none other than Sammy the Samaritan! We meet Sammy in verses 33-35. The audience would have expected a priest and a Levite to be followed by an Israelite layman. Instead, here comes Sammy the Samaritan. We would assume that this man is not going to be any help at all because the Samaritans and the Jews despised each. Whenever a Jew traveled from north to south, or south to north, the easy way would be to go through Samaria. They never did, they went around it. The worst thing you could call a good Jew was a Samaritan. The Jewish religious leaders called Jesus, in John 8:48 a demon possessed Samaritan. And so here comes a Samaritan. Not only is he a stranger, but he's an enemy and there's a tremendous amount of racism between the two. It looks like all hope is gone, but he came upon him and instead of going the other direction, when he saw him he felt compassion.
Now remember that this is a made up story. Jesus deliberately chose an outsider, and a hated one at that, for his hero. Jesus introduction of Sammy the Samaritan was thus devastating. This Samaritan went the extra mile. He gave up his own drink and his own oil, his own clothing to bandage the wounds, his own transportation, his own money to provide a room for him indefinitely. He set his whole agenda aside.
And that is the story. A story which seems to be about being neighborly, loving others, and doing to others as you would have them do to you. Those are good things to get from the parable, but they are not the message of the parable. Now that everyone is shocked out of their mind, Jesus ends his story...but we will see that next time. Until then...
As we continue in this series, "Secrets of the Kingdom: Parables in Luke's Gospel" we now come to one of the most popular parables in all of God's Word. It is one of those stories that you learn in children's Sunday school, Vacation Bible Schools, and sermons. It is one of those stories that makes its way into children's Bible Story Books, coloring books, and Christian activity books. It is a parable that has even made its way into secular society in many ways, but it is a parable that I think has been misapplied more than any other parable in all of the Word of God. It is the parable of the Good Samaritan and it is found in Luke 10:25-37. Let us look at this popular parable that has been misinterpreted and misapplied for decades, if not centuries.
The first thing that we need to see is the Context of the Parable. We discover the parable's context in verses 25-29. If we are going to understand the parable, we must understand the context of the story. Sometimes our familiarity may cause us to think we know what a story really is about and what it was intended to convey, when in fact we don't. We have a tendency to let the Word go in one ear and out the other because, we have heard it all before. This is a story, for most people, about helping someone in need. That's not really the point. This is really a story about how one inherits eternal life because that is the question that initiated the entire conversation in this scripture.
Jesus is asked, what shall I do to inherit eternal life. This lawyer wanted a list of do's and don'ts to follow. The problem however is not so much what you do or don’t do. The problem is who you are! But, Jesus humors him: let us focus on what you must do to inherit eternal life. "What does the Bible say?" he asks. The lawyer replies with the Great Commandment: Love God and love your neighbor. The lawyer clearly had a deep insight into the Scriptures when he could sum up the Law in this way. Now notice what Jesus says to his answer. You have answered correctly! You asked what you should do to inherit eternal life. You answered that you thought you should love God and love your neighbor, and Jesus says….correct! The question arises, Would Jesus mislead this man? Would he lie to him about how to gain eternal life? Of course Jesus could not lie, therefore this must be true and it is. If you live your entire life loving God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength and loving your neighbor like you love yourself…never for one moment fluctuating in your love, you would be perfect! You would never have sinned against God and you would never have sinned against your fellow man. You would be perfect and would therefore inherit eternal life.
Then the lawyer begins to asses himself, and assess himself wrongly! He said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" For most Jews a neighbor was another Jew, not a Samaritan or a Gentile. The Pharisees did not even include all Jews. He said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" He jumped over the loving God part. I'm okay with God.
There is nothing there I need to deal with and I'm okay with my neighbor unless, you have another definition of neighbor. Jesus at that point could have just dismissed him. Instead, he's going to give him one more insight into his own sinfulness. He is going to try one more time to show him his true position before God as a violator of God's Law and one who neither loves God or his neighbor. He will do that through a parable.
We have seen the context of this parable that Jesus shares. Now let us see the Content of the Parable. We read the parable's content in verses 30-35. Remember that a parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. This is not a true story, this didn't happen. This particular priest never existed. The Levite never existed. The Samaritan never existed. Jesus made them up!
To be sure that you understand that these are fictional characters, I have given them fictional names…to help act out the scene. The first person we meet, I call Jerry the Jew. We meet him in verse 30. He is beaten, robbed, and left for dead. He was in the process of dying and he was already half-way there. Obviously Jerry is in desperate need for help in this kind of condition on a lonely road. There could be a lot of time pass before anybody came along and there was no guarantee that someone would find him or help him. But then comes along, who I call, Patrick the Priest. We meet Patrick in verse 31. Thank God! Here comes a priest! This is a servant of God, one who offered sacrifices for people in the temple, one who lifted the people up before God, the best of men, and someone who is righteous. He knew the scriptures. He had read Ex 23:4-5 If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you shall bring it back to him. If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying down under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it; you shall rescue it with him. He knew Mic 6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Surely he is a godsend! But, he passed by him on the other side. Jesus uses a verb that has in it the word "anti"to strengthen it, which means that he literally went the opposite direction. Hope fades, but then we meet another character.
Larry the Levite is introduced in verse 32. There is still hope. You see, Levites came from Levi, but not from Aaron so they were lower on the ladder. They were assistants to the priests. The Levites great duty was to preserve the law of God from any form of attack and to see that its requirements were kept. They should have known what the priests knew as well, but…..he passed Jerry the Jew by as well. Hope fades even more, but then another man approaches. There is hope! Who could it be? Oh no! All hope is gone because it is none other than Sammy the Samaritan! We meet Sammy in verses 33-35. The audience would have expected a priest and a Levite to be followed by an Israelite layman. Instead, here comes Sammy the Samaritan. We would assume that this man is not going to be any help at all because the Samaritans and the Jews despised each. Whenever a Jew traveled from north to south, or south to north, the easy way would be to go through Samaria. They never did, they went around it. The worst thing you could call a good Jew was a Samaritan. The Jewish religious leaders called Jesus, in John 8:48 a demon possessed Samaritan. And so here comes a Samaritan. Not only is he a stranger, but he's an enemy and there's a tremendous amount of racism between the two. It looks like all hope is gone, but he came upon him and instead of going the other direction, when he saw him he felt compassion.
Now remember that this is a made up story. Jesus deliberately chose an outsider, and a hated one at that, for his hero. Jesus introduction of Sammy the Samaritan was thus devastating. This Samaritan went the extra mile. He gave up his own drink and his own oil, his own clothing to bandage the wounds, his own transportation, his own money to provide a room for him indefinitely. He set his whole agenda aside.
And that is the story. A story which seems to be about being neighborly, loving others, and doing to others as you would have them do to you. Those are good things to get from the parable, but they are not the message of the parable. Now that everyone is shocked out of their mind, Jesus ends his story...but we will see that next time. Until then...
Friday, March 13, 2009
Reflect the Light
We have already talked about the importance of recognizing the light and receiving the light. Today, we will discuss reflecting the light. Not only should we take care to recognize the light and receive the light, we must also be sure to Reflect the Light. That has been God's plan all along; His followers reflecting His light for His glory and mankind's good. This has been His plan all along, even for Israel. The prophet Isaiah wrote in Isaiah 42:6-7 "I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness." Again in Isa 49:6 he said, "It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth." This is his plan for us as well. Jesus said in John 9:5 "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." He is no longer in this world, so where is the light? When we receive Jesus, he shines in and through us. As He taught in Matt 5:14-16, "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. " We must reflect the light for His glory
We bring him glory when we shine the light. If Jesus is the light of the world, and men live in darkness rather than that light, we not only do a disservice to them….we do a disservice to the light who is not being seen as the light. If Jesus is the Lord of all lords, and there are men and women living outside of his authority and lordship, we must call them to repentance or we do them a great disservice, and a disservice to the Lord who is not being honored as lord. If Jesus is the way to the Father, and there are men and women wandering around lost, we must show them the way or we do them a disservice, and we do him, who came to be the way, a disservice as well. If Jesus is the truth, and there are people believing lies, we must share with them the truth or they will continue believing a lie and Jesus, the truth, will not be believed in as he should be. If Jesus is the life, and there are people who are living under the sentence of death, hell, and the grave, we must offer them the life found in Christ for their good and for His glory. After all, if Jesus came to deliver them from death, hell, and the grave, and they do not receive it, then he is being dishonored. If Jesus is who he claimed to be and there are people who are not walking in the light, who are living as rebels, lost, believing a lie, and destined for a death they don't have to die…we must bring them to Him for His glory. He deserves their praise and recognition…and if he is not getting it, let us go tell. In the words of Acts 13:47 "For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, 'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth."
We must recognize the true light and understand what it means to receive it. Finally we must reflect it. The problem with sinful and depraved humanity is, we are like roaches. As long as there is darkness in a room, the roaches will come out and crawl across the countertops, along the walls, and even on the ceilings. Let the light be turned on however, and they will scurry into nooks and cracks everywhere to escape the light. We, as sinful men and women have a tendency to do the same. The light is placed on a stand and we retreat. Jesus said in John 3:19-21 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been carried out in God." Open up the Word of God. Read the Gospel of John. Search for the light of the world like it is your first time, even if you have known Him for decades. Go after the light, deal with what He exposes, but do not run from the light. Run to the light so that your whole body may be full of light!
Until next time....
We bring him glory when we shine the light. If Jesus is the light of the world, and men live in darkness rather than that light, we not only do a disservice to them….we do a disservice to the light who is not being seen as the light. If Jesus is the Lord of all lords, and there are men and women living outside of his authority and lordship, we must call them to repentance or we do them a great disservice, and a disservice to the Lord who is not being honored as lord. If Jesus is the way to the Father, and there are men and women wandering around lost, we must show them the way or we do them a disservice, and we do him, who came to be the way, a disservice as well. If Jesus is the truth, and there are people believing lies, we must share with them the truth or they will continue believing a lie and Jesus, the truth, will not be believed in as he should be. If Jesus is the life, and there are people who are living under the sentence of death, hell, and the grave, we must offer them the life found in Christ for their good and for His glory. After all, if Jesus came to deliver them from death, hell, and the grave, and they do not receive it, then he is being dishonored. If Jesus is who he claimed to be and there are people who are not walking in the light, who are living as rebels, lost, believing a lie, and destined for a death they don't have to die…we must bring them to Him for His glory. He deserves their praise and recognition…and if he is not getting it, let us go tell. In the words of Acts 13:47 "For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, 'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth."
We must recognize the true light and understand what it means to receive it. Finally we must reflect it. The problem with sinful and depraved humanity is, we are like roaches. As long as there is darkness in a room, the roaches will come out and crawl across the countertops, along the walls, and even on the ceilings. Let the light be turned on however, and they will scurry into nooks and cracks everywhere to escape the light. We, as sinful men and women have a tendency to do the same. The light is placed on a stand and we retreat. Jesus said in John 3:19-21 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been carried out in God." Open up the Word of God. Read the Gospel of John. Search for the light of the world like it is your first time, even if you have known Him for decades. Go after the light, deal with what He exposes, but do not run from the light. Run to the light so that your whole body may be full of light!
Until next time....
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Receive the Light
Last time we discussed the importance of recognizing the true light of the world. Not only do we need to recognize the light, but we need to go on to Receive the Light. This is what we will focus on today. We must receive the light. Jesus said in John 12:46 "I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness." What does it mean to believe? We take belief much too lightly. To believe means that you must believe in the virgin birth. You believe in the sinless life. You believe in the sacrificial death. You believe in the bodily resurrection. You believe in the victorious return. You believe, not just enough to be a "Christian" but to be a Christ follower. You believe enough to lay down your pursuits…your life for the cause of Christ. That type of belief results in repentant faith. What is a repentant faith? It is a faith that repents. It is a repentance that generates faith. You cannot have one without the other; they are like opposite sides of the same coin.
Repentance is to turn away from sin. Jesus said in Luke 13:3 that except we repent, we will all likewise perish. You can go through the motions, but without repentance you are lost. Repentance is turning. The Apostle Paul calls it putting off the old man in Ephesians 4:22. "Put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt." Faith is a complete trust, belief, and reliance upon Christ for salvation. Ephesians 2:8 says, "It is by grace, through faith and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God." It is through faith in Christ alone that we are saved. That may sound elementary, but most people trust in anything and everything but Jesus Christ. There are a lot who trust in a sinner's prayer. There are a lot who trust in a baptism or church membership. There are a lot who trust in good deeds, but that is insufficient. There must be faith and trust in Jesus alone, because it is not due to what we have done, but what He has done. We must trust Jesus enough that we are willing to say to him, "Jesus I trust you with me…with my heart, soul, mind, and life! I trust you and I am yours EVEN IF YOU WOULD CHOOSE TO SEND ME TO HELL! I trust you. That is trust!
A repentant faith results in a transformation. We are not saved by works, but if we are saved there will be evident works. James 2:17 says, "faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." James 2:26 states, "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." John Calvin put it this way, "We are justified by faith alone, but a faith that justifies is never alone." We have every reason to be concerned over people’s souls who go through the motions, but never show a change of direction. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."
We must receive the light, but we must also continue receiving light and more light. This is not just a one time decision. It is a lifetime walk. It is daily repentance and faith. It is a continuous seeking after more and more of the light, after the truth, and after more of God. If we use what God gives it will increase. If we do not, we will lose even what we think we have. To turn a deaf ear to God's Word results in spiritual deafness. It results in us hearing, but not understanding. This is very very dangerous. We see the danger of dull hearing in Romans 1:18-32. If we ignore the revelation that God has provided for us through His creation, His Word, and His messenger, the result will not only be spiritual blindness and dullness, but death. We should be very careful to intentionally receive the light for it is dangerous to passively approach His Word. When we passively approach God's revelation it results in Distracted Thinking (Romans 1:21a). When our thinking becomes distracted, then we suffer from darkened Hearts (Romans 1:21b-23). When our hearts are darkened, the next downward step is to Dishonored Bodies (Romans 1:24-27). Then we receive debased minds (Romans 1:28-31). Finally, the end result is death (Romans 1:32).
Passively approaching the Word of God is dangerous, because everytime you encounter His revelation your heart is getting softer and more sensitive or harder and less sensitive. Everytime you encounter His Word your ears are getting more deaf or more keen. Every time you encounter His message, your sight is getting duller or clearer. You will not remain the same. That is why Jesus stated very clearly in Mark 4:24-25 "Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away." Be sure that you receive the light and keep receiving the light!
Repentance is to turn away from sin. Jesus said in Luke 13:3 that except we repent, we will all likewise perish. You can go through the motions, but without repentance you are lost. Repentance is turning. The Apostle Paul calls it putting off the old man in Ephesians 4:22. "Put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt." Faith is a complete trust, belief, and reliance upon Christ for salvation. Ephesians 2:8 says, "It is by grace, through faith and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God." It is through faith in Christ alone that we are saved. That may sound elementary, but most people trust in anything and everything but Jesus Christ. There are a lot who trust in a sinner's prayer. There are a lot who trust in a baptism or church membership. There are a lot who trust in good deeds, but that is insufficient. There must be faith and trust in Jesus alone, because it is not due to what we have done, but what He has done. We must trust Jesus enough that we are willing to say to him, "Jesus I trust you with me…with my heart, soul, mind, and life! I trust you and I am yours EVEN IF YOU WOULD CHOOSE TO SEND ME TO HELL! I trust you. That is trust!
A repentant faith results in a transformation. We are not saved by works, but if we are saved there will be evident works. James 2:17 says, "faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." James 2:26 states, "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." John Calvin put it this way, "We are justified by faith alone, but a faith that justifies is never alone." We have every reason to be concerned over people’s souls who go through the motions, but never show a change of direction. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."
We must receive the light, but we must also continue receiving light and more light. This is not just a one time decision. It is a lifetime walk. It is daily repentance and faith. It is a continuous seeking after more and more of the light, after the truth, and after more of God. If we use what God gives it will increase. If we do not, we will lose even what we think we have. To turn a deaf ear to God's Word results in spiritual deafness. It results in us hearing, but not understanding. This is very very dangerous. We see the danger of dull hearing in Romans 1:18-32. If we ignore the revelation that God has provided for us through His creation, His Word, and His messenger, the result will not only be spiritual blindness and dullness, but death. We should be very careful to intentionally receive the light for it is dangerous to passively approach His Word. When we passively approach God's revelation it results in Distracted Thinking (Romans 1:21a). When our thinking becomes distracted, then we suffer from darkened Hearts (Romans 1:21b-23). When our hearts are darkened, the next downward step is to Dishonored Bodies (Romans 1:24-27). Then we receive debased minds (Romans 1:28-31). Finally, the end result is death (Romans 1:32).
Passively approaching the Word of God is dangerous, because everytime you encounter His revelation your heart is getting softer and more sensitive or harder and less sensitive. Everytime you encounter His Word your ears are getting more deaf or more keen. Every time you encounter His message, your sight is getting duller or clearer. You will not remain the same. That is why Jesus stated very clearly in Mark 4:24-25 "Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away." Be sure that you receive the light and keep receiving the light!
Monday, March 9, 2009
Recognize the True Light
This week we are going to look at 2 parables in Luke's Gospel that are very similar in content and cause (Luke 8:16-18 and 11:33-36). It was not surprising that Jesus would have told the same parables on more than one occasion since the truth is the truth whether you are in Bethany or Capernaum. People are people whether you are in Nazareth or Jerusalem. Here, we have Jesus share virtually the same story at 2 different times in Luke's Gospel: both have to do with light and darkness, sight and blindness, and ultimately about receiving the truth of God's Word or missing out on it. There are three things that we are reminded of in these parables.
We must Recognize the Light. The light was prophesied in the Old Testament. In Isaiah 9:2 the prophet prophesied, "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,on them has light shined." The light was prophesied in the New Testament as well. In John 1:6-10 we read, "There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world." This light that was prophesied was and is Jesus. Jesus is identified as the true light. This implies that there are false lights. Counterfeit Christs abound.
The Mormons have their very own Jesus that is not the Jesus of the Bible. The Jesus that Mormons believe in was not conceived by a supernatural act of the Holy Spirit of God…nor was he born of a virgin. The Mormon Jesus was conceived by literal sexual intercourse between God the Father and Mary. The Mormons believe that Jesus is a created being, not the Word made flesh. They also apparently believe that he is the older brother of Lucifer? Clearly the same name (Jesus) but a very different "Jesus" than the one we find in the Word of God. The Muslims also believe in Jesus…but not the Jesus of the Bible. They believe that Jesus was a prophet, but not the Son of God, and not resurrected from the dead: Definitely not the Jesus of the Bible! The Jehovah's Witnesses even have a Jesus that they believe in. The problem with him is that he was a created being, not an eternal one. Furthermore, he is not considered deity. There view gets even stranger when they assert that Jesus is really Michael the Archangel in human form….enough said. To the Hindu's Jesus is a great teacher…the problem with that is he cannot be a great teacher without also being the one true God in the flesh. After all, to make the claims He made and not be the one true God in the flesh, would make him a liar at best and fruitcake at worst. You can't be a liar and/or a fruitcake and be a good teacher at the same time! Even the Catholics have a Jesus, a true miracle, a blond haired blue eyed Jew from Palestine! The Catholic Jesus could pass for an effeminate man at best, or a slightly masculine woman at worst. I know I am being sarcastic, but why not just recognize the Jesus of the Bible?! Not to be prejudice, we Baptists have our own Jesus to in many cases. He is the Jesus who stands at the door of your heart, begging and pleading for you to let Him in. He is a helpless, weak, impotent Savior who is at our beck and call and, at our disposal. That is not the Jesus of the Bible!
While there are a host of counterfeits, there is only one true light: and that is the Jesus of this book. In John 8:12-13 we read, "Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." The light was clearly displayed in the person of Jesus. But, even though the light was clearly on display (on a lamp stand), the light does no good if the man coming toward it is blind! And the people of Jesus' day were, for the most part, blind! In Matthew 15:14 Jesus said, "Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit." Four times in Matthew 23 Jesus refers to the religious leaders as blind. Woe to you, blind guides (16). You blind fools! (17) You blind men! (19) You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! (24) They were blind and they liked it that way. After all, to admit they were blind would mean that they had been wrong…and their father's had been wrong…and their grandparents had been wrong. How hard it is for those who have grown dull of hearing, nearsighted, and hard to the Word of God to heed the light.
Sadly, for the most part, people today are blind to the light as well. You see, it is not an issue of light. It is an issue of sight. Light is everywhere, but blind people cannot see it. The Word is everywhere, but deaf people cannot hear it. The light fades from those who handle it carelessly, therefore we must recognize Jesus Christ (the Jesus Christ of the Word of God) as the THE light of the world. I want to challenge you this week to try again to recognize the true light. Read the Gospels and try, as you read, to meet Jesus for the first time all over again. Set aside your preconceived notions and your assumptions and just try to find out who the Jesus of the Bible is again! Until next time….
We must Recognize the Light. The light was prophesied in the Old Testament. In Isaiah 9:2 the prophet prophesied, "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,on them has light shined." The light was prophesied in the New Testament as well. In John 1:6-10 we read, "There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world." This light that was prophesied was and is Jesus. Jesus is identified as the true light. This implies that there are false lights. Counterfeit Christs abound.
The Mormons have their very own Jesus that is not the Jesus of the Bible. The Jesus that Mormons believe in was not conceived by a supernatural act of the Holy Spirit of God…nor was he born of a virgin. The Mormon Jesus was conceived by literal sexual intercourse between God the Father and Mary. The Mormons believe that Jesus is a created being, not the Word made flesh. They also apparently believe that he is the older brother of Lucifer? Clearly the same name (Jesus) but a very different "Jesus" than the one we find in the Word of God. The Muslims also believe in Jesus…but not the Jesus of the Bible. They believe that Jesus was a prophet, but not the Son of God, and not resurrected from the dead: Definitely not the Jesus of the Bible! The Jehovah's Witnesses even have a Jesus that they believe in. The problem with him is that he was a created being, not an eternal one. Furthermore, he is not considered deity. There view gets even stranger when they assert that Jesus is really Michael the Archangel in human form….enough said. To the Hindu's Jesus is a great teacher…the problem with that is he cannot be a great teacher without also being the one true God in the flesh. After all, to make the claims He made and not be the one true God in the flesh, would make him a liar at best and fruitcake at worst. You can't be a liar and/or a fruitcake and be a good teacher at the same time! Even the Catholics have a Jesus, a true miracle, a blond haired blue eyed Jew from Palestine! The Catholic Jesus could pass for an effeminate man at best, or a slightly masculine woman at worst. I know I am being sarcastic, but why not just recognize the Jesus of the Bible?! Not to be prejudice, we Baptists have our own Jesus to in many cases. He is the Jesus who stands at the door of your heart, begging and pleading for you to let Him in. He is a helpless, weak, impotent Savior who is at our beck and call and, at our disposal. That is not the Jesus of the Bible!
While there are a host of counterfeits, there is only one true light: and that is the Jesus of this book. In John 8:12-13 we read, "Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." The light was clearly displayed in the person of Jesus. But, even though the light was clearly on display (on a lamp stand), the light does no good if the man coming toward it is blind! And the people of Jesus' day were, for the most part, blind! In Matthew 15:14 Jesus said, "Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit." Four times in Matthew 23 Jesus refers to the religious leaders as blind. Woe to you, blind guides (16). You blind fools! (17) You blind men! (19) You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! (24) They were blind and they liked it that way. After all, to admit they were blind would mean that they had been wrong…and their father's had been wrong…and their grandparents had been wrong. How hard it is for those who have grown dull of hearing, nearsighted, and hard to the Word of God to heed the light.
Sadly, for the most part, people today are blind to the light as well. You see, it is not an issue of light. It is an issue of sight. Light is everywhere, but blind people cannot see it. The Word is everywhere, but deaf people cannot hear it. The light fades from those who handle it carelessly, therefore we must recognize Jesus Christ (the Jesus Christ of the Word of God) as the THE light of the world. I want to challenge you this week to try again to recognize the true light. Read the Gospels and try, as you read, to meet Jesus for the first time all over again. Set aside your preconceived notions and your assumptions and just try to find out who the Jesus of the Bible is again! Until next time….
Friday, March 6, 2009
The Good and Bad Soils
We have already taken a brief look at the sower and the seed of Luke 8. Now let us take a look at the soils. There are four soils mentioned in the parable. The first is the trampled soil. In Luke 8:5 Jesus said, "A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it." He interprets this in verse 12, "The ones along the path are those who have heard. Then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved."
The devil is quite crafty and he will snatch away the word in any way that he can. He will trample on you before you ever hear the Word. (kids, worldly music on your car radio, ungodly TV programs, aggravating phone calls, text messages, the rush and hustle and bustle of trying to get to Bible study/worship). He will work on your mind during the teaching of the Word. (Children acting out, Cell phones going off, people getting up and down, coming in and out, and/or leaving early). He will continue to try to snatch the Word away after. There is the immediate roar of small talk the moment the benediction has been announced. There is the critical dissection of the preacher at home around the kitchen table. There is the constant sound of the radio, the constant glow of the television, the constant buzz of the next text message, the constant sound of the ring of the telephone and Satan is steadily trampling the seed and snatching away any seed that might take root in our hearts. Fruitless.
The second type of soil is the rocky soil. Jesus said in Luke 8:6, "And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture." He explained in verse 13, "And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away."
The people who fall into this category come forward when the invitation is given. They say the right words, pray an appropriate prayer, start to attend church, and rejoice in their new family and friends. The truth takes no real root in their hearts however. They never really count the cost…they are unwilling to pay the price of following Christ. Following Christ is costly. Just listen to his words in Luke 14:26-33.
"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' 31 Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple."
Salvation is all of grace (free of charge) but it will always cost you everything you have and are. Those who are characterized as Rocky, shallow soil are not willing to pay the price. They are not willing to strive to enter the narrow gate. They are unwilling to run the race in such a way as to win. They are unwilling to fight to lay hold of eternal life. Come the first breath of opposition or disagreement and off they go. They professed Christ, but never possessed Christ.
The third soil is the thorny soil. In Luke 8:7 Jesus said, "And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it." He explained the meaning in verse 14, "And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.'
This group walks the aisle, goes through the motions, and gets their fire insurance. Then they keep coming to church and living good moral lives. They may even serve in some capacity or go do outreach on Monday nights or even take mission trips. Yet, their hearts are focused on the same things the world pursues. Their lives are spent chasing after prosperity, possessions, and pleasures of the world. Their priorities are the things of the world and they feel like God is happy that they are, at least contributing something to his kingdom. The problem is found isn Matthew 6:24 where Jesus said, "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." The Word that the Lord used to describe this soil literally describes the bustle of an active life and the coming and going of people who are transacting business. In other words, they profess faith in Christ, but then it is business as usual. Did you hear that….literally Jesus is describing people who PROFESS faith in Christ, BUT then it is business as usual. This soil looks an awful lot like American "Christianity." The problem is John wrote in 1 John 2:15-16, Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world.
Demas could be described as this type of soil. He followed Christ for awhile. He even worked with Paul for awhile. But then he fell away. In 2 Tim 4:10, Paul wrote "For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica." That is the definition of this type of soil…more in love with this world than with Christ.
The final soil can be described as the fertile soil. In Luke 8:8 Jesus said, "And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold." He explains it in this way, "As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience." The question is, not did you respond to the Word, or did you profess Christ, or are you living a good moral life. The question is, Are you bearing fruit? Jesus said in John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. In Luke 6:44 he said, for each tree is known by its own fruit. Are you bearing fruit?
You see, while four soils are identified, there are really only 2 types: good and bad, fruitful and unfruitful. If you are trampled soil…If you are rocky soil…If you are thorny soil….You are bad soil…unfruitful. There is only one soil that is good and fruitful and that is the fertile soil. Which soil are you?
There is one determining factor that separates the fertile soils from the others: perseverance. It is important not only how you begin the Christian experience, but it is equally important to persevere until the end. Faith and hearing are valuable only if those who believe also endure and bring forth fruit. The faith that leads to salvation is a faith that perseveres and bears fruit.
Have you Turned, Trusted, and been transformed? Have you denied yourself, are you taking up your cross daily, and are you following him? Are you striving, running, fighting? Are you walking with God? Are you bearing fruit?
The devil is quite crafty and he will snatch away the word in any way that he can. He will trample on you before you ever hear the Word. (kids, worldly music on your car radio, ungodly TV programs, aggravating phone calls, text messages, the rush and hustle and bustle of trying to get to Bible study/worship). He will work on your mind during the teaching of the Word. (Children acting out, Cell phones going off, people getting up and down, coming in and out, and/or leaving early). He will continue to try to snatch the Word away after. There is the immediate roar of small talk the moment the benediction has been announced. There is the critical dissection of the preacher at home around the kitchen table. There is the constant sound of the radio, the constant glow of the television, the constant buzz of the next text message, the constant sound of the ring of the telephone and Satan is steadily trampling the seed and snatching away any seed that might take root in our hearts. Fruitless.
The second type of soil is the rocky soil. Jesus said in Luke 8:6, "And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture." He explained in verse 13, "And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away."
The people who fall into this category come forward when the invitation is given. They say the right words, pray an appropriate prayer, start to attend church, and rejoice in their new family and friends. The truth takes no real root in their hearts however. They never really count the cost…they are unwilling to pay the price of following Christ. Following Christ is costly. Just listen to his words in Luke 14:26-33.
"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' 31 Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple."
Salvation is all of grace (free of charge) but it will always cost you everything you have and are. Those who are characterized as Rocky, shallow soil are not willing to pay the price. They are not willing to strive to enter the narrow gate. They are unwilling to run the race in such a way as to win. They are unwilling to fight to lay hold of eternal life. Come the first breath of opposition or disagreement and off they go. They professed Christ, but never possessed Christ.
The third soil is the thorny soil. In Luke 8:7 Jesus said, "And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it." He explained the meaning in verse 14, "And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.'
This group walks the aisle, goes through the motions, and gets their fire insurance. Then they keep coming to church and living good moral lives. They may even serve in some capacity or go do outreach on Monday nights or even take mission trips. Yet, their hearts are focused on the same things the world pursues. Their lives are spent chasing after prosperity, possessions, and pleasures of the world. Their priorities are the things of the world and they feel like God is happy that they are, at least contributing something to his kingdom. The problem is found isn Matthew 6:24 where Jesus said, "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." The Word that the Lord used to describe this soil literally describes the bustle of an active life and the coming and going of people who are transacting business. In other words, they profess faith in Christ, but then it is business as usual. Did you hear that….literally Jesus is describing people who PROFESS faith in Christ, BUT then it is business as usual. This soil looks an awful lot like American "Christianity." The problem is John wrote in 1 John 2:15-16, Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world.
Demas could be described as this type of soil. He followed Christ for awhile. He even worked with Paul for awhile. But then he fell away. In 2 Tim 4:10, Paul wrote "For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica." That is the definition of this type of soil…more in love with this world than with Christ.
The final soil can be described as the fertile soil. In Luke 8:8 Jesus said, "And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold." He explains it in this way, "As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience." The question is, not did you respond to the Word, or did you profess Christ, or are you living a good moral life. The question is, Are you bearing fruit? Jesus said in John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. In Luke 6:44 he said, for each tree is known by its own fruit. Are you bearing fruit?
You see, while four soils are identified, there are really only 2 types: good and bad, fruitful and unfruitful. If you are trampled soil…If you are rocky soil…If you are thorny soil….You are bad soil…unfruitful. There is only one soil that is good and fruitful and that is the fertile soil. Which soil are you?
There is one determining factor that separates the fertile soils from the others: perseverance. It is important not only how you begin the Christian experience, but it is equally important to persevere until the end. Faith and hearing are valuable only if those who believe also endure and bring forth fruit. The faith that leads to salvation is a faith that perseveres and bears fruit.
Have you Turned, Trusted, and been transformed? Have you denied yourself, are you taking up your cross daily, and are you following him? Are you striving, running, fighting? Are you walking with God? Are you bearing fruit?
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Sowing the Seed
Luke 8:4-15
This week we are going to look at the fourth parable in Luke's Gospel as we continue journeying through The Secrets of the Kingdom together. It is in this scripture that Jesus gives us the title for our series. He has just shared a parable and his disciples approach him trying to understand what it means. He says, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that 'seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.'" Not only does he identify his parables as containing secrets pertaining to the kingdom…but he points out that everyone will not hear the real message. Everyone will not see the real message. Some will see, but not see. Others will hear, but not understand.
This dullness of hearing and dimness of sight and hardness of heart has always been a problem. Isaiah is quoted in Acts 28:25-27 as prophesying "'Go to this people, and say, You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive. For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.' Three times in Hebrews the verse is quoted, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion" Seven time in the first 3 chapters of Revelation we are told, "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." And that is exactly what this parable is about. Hearing!
In this parable, we see a sower. Luke 8:5 tells us that "A sower went out to sow his seed." Little attention is given to the sower. He has only one task in the grander scheme of things…to sow the seed. The sower's role is not to draw a crowd. It is not to please a crowd. It is not to harvest a crop or even to produce a crop. The sower's role is to sow seed. While little attention is given to him, his role is important. In John 4:37-38 Jesus said, 'One sows and another reaps.' I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor." In First Corinthians 3:6-9 Paul pointed out, "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God's fellow workers."
The sower simply sows the seed and that is where his responsibility ends. Luke 8:5 tells us that the sower went out to sow his seed. This leads us to ask the question, "What is the Seed?" Jesus answers in verse 11, "The seed is the word of God." The seed is the Word of God and it is the same regardless of where it is sown. On the path…it is still seed. On the rock…it is still seed. Among the thorns…it is still the seed. On the fertile soil…it is still the seed. The seed was good seed, bursting with life awaiting germination. Jesus said that the seed is "the Word of God."
Do we even know what the seed is? There are so many self helps messages in the Name of Jesus. There are so many positive thinking messages in the Name of Jesus. I hear more and more about "life principles" whatever that means. So many programs, so many clever plans, so many gimmicks and so little seed! This is not what the apostles were sowing. They were sowing the seed: the seed of the Gospel! Not self helps and positive thinking….but the Gospel! Not plans, programs, and the next gimmick but the Gospel! I cannot tell you when was the last time I heard the Gospel on TV, radio, or even in church, yet that is what the apostles focused on: the Gospel!
1 Thess 2:1-9
For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2 But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. 3 For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. 5 For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed— God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. 8 So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us. 9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
They had a lot invested in the Gospel. Do we even know the Gospel today? Has it become so familiar to us that we know longer recognize its power? Paul wrote in Romans 1:16, For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. The Gospel is the power of God for salvation! Here is the Gospel…
1 Cor 15:1-4
Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you— unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures
The Gospel is about a thrice holy God and a totally depraved humanity, which results in you and I being enemies of God. The Gospel is about God entering humanity as Christ to live the life that we could never live and to take the wrath of God on our behalf so that we could be reconciled to God through His blood. The Gospel is about man repenting and trusting in the atoning work of Christ. The Gospel is about the glory of God. If you want to truly understand the Gospel, a good book is called "Know and Tell the Gospel" by John Chapman which can be ordered from Matthias Media online (this is not necessarily an endorsement of everything in the book). You can go to https://store.matthiasmedia.com/order/orders.asp and click on Growth under browse products. Then click on "Other Christian Living Books" and it should be down there somewhere.
The sower is clear and the seed is clearer, but the heart of the parable is what comes next: the soils…we'll save that until next time.
This week we are going to look at the fourth parable in Luke's Gospel as we continue journeying through The Secrets of the Kingdom together. It is in this scripture that Jesus gives us the title for our series. He has just shared a parable and his disciples approach him trying to understand what it means. He says, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that 'seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.'" Not only does he identify his parables as containing secrets pertaining to the kingdom…but he points out that everyone will not hear the real message. Everyone will not see the real message. Some will see, but not see. Others will hear, but not understand.
This dullness of hearing and dimness of sight and hardness of heart has always been a problem. Isaiah is quoted in Acts 28:25-27 as prophesying "'Go to this people, and say, You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive. For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.' Three times in Hebrews the verse is quoted, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion" Seven time in the first 3 chapters of Revelation we are told, "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." And that is exactly what this parable is about. Hearing!
In this parable, we see a sower. Luke 8:5 tells us that "A sower went out to sow his seed." Little attention is given to the sower. He has only one task in the grander scheme of things…to sow the seed. The sower's role is not to draw a crowd. It is not to please a crowd. It is not to harvest a crop or even to produce a crop. The sower's role is to sow seed. While little attention is given to him, his role is important. In John 4:37-38 Jesus said, 'One sows and another reaps.' I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor." In First Corinthians 3:6-9 Paul pointed out, "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God's fellow workers."
The sower simply sows the seed and that is where his responsibility ends. Luke 8:5 tells us that the sower went out to sow his seed. This leads us to ask the question, "What is the Seed?" Jesus answers in verse 11, "The seed is the word of God." The seed is the Word of God and it is the same regardless of where it is sown. On the path…it is still seed. On the rock…it is still seed. Among the thorns…it is still the seed. On the fertile soil…it is still the seed. The seed was good seed, bursting with life awaiting germination. Jesus said that the seed is "the Word of God."
Do we even know what the seed is? There are so many self helps messages in the Name of Jesus. There are so many positive thinking messages in the Name of Jesus. I hear more and more about "life principles" whatever that means. So many programs, so many clever plans, so many gimmicks and so little seed! This is not what the apostles were sowing. They were sowing the seed: the seed of the Gospel! Not self helps and positive thinking….but the Gospel! Not plans, programs, and the next gimmick but the Gospel! I cannot tell you when was the last time I heard the Gospel on TV, radio, or even in church, yet that is what the apostles focused on: the Gospel!
1 Thess 2:1-9
For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2 But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. 3 For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. 5 For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed— God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. 8 So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us. 9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
They had a lot invested in the Gospel. Do we even know the Gospel today? Has it become so familiar to us that we know longer recognize its power? Paul wrote in Romans 1:16, For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. The Gospel is the power of God for salvation! Here is the Gospel…
1 Cor 15:1-4
Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you— unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures
The Gospel is about a thrice holy God and a totally depraved humanity, which results in you and I being enemies of God. The Gospel is about God entering humanity as Christ to live the life that we could never live and to take the wrath of God on our behalf so that we could be reconciled to God through His blood. The Gospel is about man repenting and trusting in the atoning work of Christ. The Gospel is about the glory of God. If you want to truly understand the Gospel, a good book is called "Know and Tell the Gospel" by John Chapman which can be ordered from Matthias Media online (this is not necessarily an endorsement of everything in the book). You can go to https://store.matthiasmedia.com/order/orders.asp and click on Growth under browse products. Then click on "Other Christian Living Books" and it should be down there somewhere.
The sower is clear and the seed is clearer, but the heart of the parable is what comes next: the soils…we'll save that until next time.
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