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What Rules You? Anxiety

Philippians 4:1-13

What does God say about anxiety?

Anxiety is a real struggle for humanity

Anxiety is a response of the heart, not an inescapable condition

God has made a way for victory over anxiety

You must keep your heart by overcoming anxiety biblically

Manuscript:

Good morning, church family! Introduce self + welcome guests

This is week 2 of Stewardship Month. Stewardship Month is a time of the year when we like to slow down and consider what God says about wisely managing all that he has entrusted to us. Last week, I began by reintroducing four principles of stewardship. Here they are again:

God owns everything, I own nothing

God entrusts me with everything I have

I can either be a wise or poor steward of what God has entrusted to me; He wants me to be a wise steward

God can call me to give an account at any time and it could be today

These principles come from a variety of passages in the Bible. I’d really encourage every household to revisit the 7 Days of Stewardship Bible Study that we’ve provided in the back of the room (or online on our Stewardship Resources page). This study will help you become familiar with the larger concept of biblical stewardship.

This year we are learning about Stewarding Our Heart in a series titled What Rules You? We kicked off the series last week by developing a theology of the heart from both Old and New Testaments. If you missed out, I would highly recommend going back and listening to that sermon as soon as possible. It will help everything else make sense this month.

Since we’re already here and in the room though, let me just give a quick recap of the main points from that sermon:

Your heart drives your life

Your heart has gone haywire

God has made a way for heart change

You must keep your heart

Were you faithful to be in the Word and prayer to seek God’s help in changing your heart’s desire? These were all specific ways we identified to help keep the heart last week. I hope this past week was one of tangible growth and victory for you! (Slide)

Today we are narrowing our focus to consider a specific heart attitude that can rule us. Does anyone remember what we’re studying today? Anxiety. I’m not sure why I picked this one… It’s not like anyone really struggles with anxiety… Oh wait… I’m certain this is one of the most common heart responses we’re going to talk about.

And I know, for many, that when we begin to discuss issues like anxiety, it becomes a deeply personal discussion. As I was preparing for this sermon, I began to think about the people God has entrusted to our pastor team at Harvest Bible Chapel. The flock among us whom we are called to shepherd. And as I thought of you, I remembered that I have had many conversations related to this topic of anxiety. It is my sincere desire to do good to you through this sermon. My aim is to give you hope in the God who has plenty to say about anxiety and to give you direction on how to experience freedom from this ruling heart attitude, if it has ensnared you!

And, if this is not your struggle, well I hope you’ll listen closely to be better equipped to help your dear brother or sister in Christ who is struggling with it. We are called to bear one another’s burdens in love! What a privilege and delight as the body of Christ.

Let’s turn our attention to our primary text for today, Philippians 4.

What hope-filled words from the Apostle Paul in this passage of Scripture! Paul was writing to a church that was facing conflict within, in its members, and opposition outside, from the community. Yet, in the midst of such daunting circumstances, he makes sure to remind them of the hope they have in Jesus Christ. In fact, just before this section of Scripture, Paul wrote:

Paul is a man who understands the temptation of fear and anxiety. He knew what it was like to face opposition, to endure hard circumstances, to have others turn against you and seek to kill you. You might say that Paul had many reasons to be anxious! Moreso than most of us! Yet, as we will learn today, Paul did not allow his heart and life to be ruled by anxiety. He had an eternal hope that directed his present life, a view of God that carried him through many hard situations. He was confident that Jesus is on the throne and in control. And this view of God and hope in God is what he commends to the Philippians. We’re going to develop this as we go today.

The question driving our discussion this morning is…

This is not going to be an exhaustive treatment on the topic. I could not possibly capture all that God has to say about this matter in a single sermon. That is part of what makes God and His Word so awesome! He speaks SO OFTEN to this struggle. If you are someone who struggles with anxiety, please keep studying the Word on this topic after this sermon.

Let’s start with a high-level observation from this passage.

Anxiety is a real struggle for humanity

By anxiety I mean a fearful response stemming from disordered desires that expresses a functional distrust in God’s care, sovereignty, or sufficiency. (repeat) This is what is in focus for our discussion today. Anxiety often occurs when we elevate good desires to ruling desires in our heart. “I want my family to be safe” becomes “My family must be safe, or life is over and God is not good.” “I desire people to love me” becomes “I need people to love me.” Do you hear the difference?

In verse 6, Paul had to tell the Philippians not to be anxious. This implies it was a real struggle for them! And to be fair, this point is not rocket science. We know this to be true both from the biblical accounts and from our own experience in society. Not only does Paul write about it here to the Philippians, but guys like King David write about their battle with fear.

Many of us are likely familiar with Jesus’ teaching on this subject in Matthew 6. It begins like this:

Jesus knew that we are prone to fear about our daily provisions. That it is tempting to respond to our daily desires with a distrust in God via anxiety.

Even Adam and Eve, after committing the first sin, tried to hide from God in the trees of the garden because they were afraid! The Scriptures are full of examples of people struggling with fear and their response to it. (Slide)

We can also see it very plainly in our society today. Not only have I heard from many of you that this is a relevant topic, but if we were to check the statistics publicly available for America, we would find that 1 in 5 of our youth say that they struggle with anxiety (20%). The number decreases slightly for adults to 1 in 8 (12.5%) but that is still a relatively high percentage! The most common mental health diagnoses in our country are related to anxiety.

This is not overly surprising given how many things there are in life that one could worry about. It is far too easy to give into a fear or fixation that promotes doubt in or a functional distrust of God. Whether that comes from your relationships with peers, to the general state of our economy or instability of our country, the election results, or a myriad of other things… there are plenty of temptations to indulge in anxiety.

Now, even as I say that I want to acknowledge that our struggle with anxiety is further complicated by the effects of sin on our body. We are both body and soul, physical and immaterial. And what affects one will influence the other. We must not overlook that the condition of our body (physical) can make it harder for our hearts (immaterial) to resist anxiety. When we are sleep deprived, or facing other physical challenges it can heighten our battle with anxiousness. This must be taken into consideration and ought to elicit compassion as we try to help others in their battle with anxiety. But please also realize that this does not become an excuse to give yourself over to anxiety! It’s an opportunity to keep your heart and learn to trust God, even with your physical weaknesses/complications.

God deals honestly with our anxiety in the Word. But does He have answers for our struggles with it? Yes! And it begins by accurately diagnosing the problem. We must look at anxiety the way God does. And this is going to be at odds with our contemporary culture’s analysis. What does God say about anxiety?

Anxiety is a response of the heart, not an inescapable condition

As we heard last week, our hearts have gone haywire. They struggle with disordered desires. And anxiety is one possible response of the heart to these disordered desires! It is a response of fear and functional distrust in God that can exercise incredible influence over the rest of our lives.

Yet, as we have already begun to see in Philippians 4:6, anxiety is able to be put off and replaced with a different response. David was a great example of this in Psalm 56 when he responded to the temptation to fear with a reminder to himself that he trusts in God and his word. As we talk about anxiety today, we are talking about your RESPONSE to life’s circumstances, not simply the feeling of fear or stress. It is what you do when you are tempted to fear or feel stressed.

God’s Word reveals that we do not have to remain stuck in anxiety. It is not an inescapable sentence. Even if your body may be more prone to feeling anxious due to physical complications, this does not mean you must be enslaved to anxiety as your inevitable, permanent identity. It is possible to learn how to respond differently – to turn your heart toward Christ during your struggle and find peace!

There is great hope in realizing that anxiety is something you have engaged in rather than something that happens to you. Because, by God’s grace, you can change and experience victory over anxiety when you learn to handle it his way.

Consider Paul’s situation when he is writing this letter to the Philippians. Do you know where he is writing from? A prison cell in Rome! And he was there because he had been unjustly accused and arrested several years earlier in Jerusalem! The end of the book of Acts traces all the hardships he endured over those years. And yet, listen to how he describes his circumstances.

Paul is imprisoned in Rome, having the imperial guard watching over him, having already endured years of mistreatment and suffering. How would you describe the condition of his heart at this time? Fearful? Anxious? No… joyful! What an odd response to such hard circumstances! But this is not the first time Paul has responded this way. Do you recall his first experience in Phillipi? It is found in Acts 16. Here’s the summary version:

What was Paul’s response? Was he cowering in fear? No. Listen to this:

They were doing the last thing you would expect amid their hard circumstances. Rather than succumbing to fear, they were praying and singing to God! Paul knows a thing or two about enduring very hard circumstances in life.

In these passages, Paul becomes for us an example of going through anxiety-inducing situations yet not succumbing to that particular response of the heart. Instead, he rejoices and is at peace in God. Perhaps this helps us better understand his own counsel to the Philippians in chapter 4:

Even though they were undergoing opposition from the Judaizers (chp 3) and had quarrels between some women in their church (chp 4), Paul commands them to respond with rejoicing and putting off anxiousness by presenting their requests to God. Rather than fixating on or being unduly concerned over their troubles, which could lead to unbelief or distrust in God, Paul expects them to direct their thoughts and actions to the things of God.

Paul is helping to expose the root of anxiety here. The anxious person is focused on something other than trusting God. Their heart has become consumed by something OTHER THAN God. Surely, you can relate…

Rather than focusing on trusting God, I am fixated on…

Why my friend hasn’t texted me back yet!

Where those few extra pounds on the scale came from.

What this medical diagnosis means for my future.

What my boss wants to meet about later this week.

Whether my kids will sink or swim in life.

The outcomes of the recent elections.

Even further, what those outcomes mean for me.

How my day will go.

What my future will be like.

You could probably come up with other things to put there. You know what you are tempted to be fixated on and worry about. Anxiety is a response of the heart. We are responding to real pressures, suffering, perceived threats, and embodied weaknesses.

Yet, as God so beautifully reveals in his Word, we do not have to be consumed by anxiety! Did you hear Paul’s counsel to the Philippians in verse 5?

God is at hand. He is near to you. This is what leads into the command “do not be anxious about anything.” Why should God’s nearness change their response?

To answer that we must consider God’s character!

He is good (able to be trusted)

He is merciful/gracious (showing compassion and help in time of need)

He is all-powerful (able to do what is best)

He is all-knowing (knows what is best for us)

This is only a very brief sampling of his character. If we had time, we could go much deeper into this. I would highly encourage you, if you struggle with anxiety, to become deeply familiar with the character of your God! It will be a balm to your soul.

Earlier in the letter, Paul had rehearsed the wonderful humility of Jesus Christ taking on flesh so that he could die on the cross in fulfillment of the grand redemption plan of God. He had pointed out that this same Jesus Christ would come again to transform their lowly bodies to be like his glorious body in eternal life. For Paul, God was not someone he thought about occasionally or only had vague notions of. No, he regularly rehearsed the truths of God’s character, as revealed most clearly in Jesus Christ.

And when you recognize the one who is near to you, then you can have great comfort and peace in time of need! But please do not miss that this requires active participation on your part.

Verses 8-9 tell the Philippians that they must think about or dwell on certain kinds of things – whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, etc., - THINK about these things. Paul is directing their thought life. And he tells them to look to his example – he has modeled this for them! Self-control in what you think and how you respond is possible for a Christian. And this will have an immediate impact upon your emotions and temptations to be anxious.

My hope is that you are beginning to recognize that anxiety is driven by inner heart issues. And, as Paul, David, and Jesus model, it is possible to respond to the trials and temptations of life with trust in God that leads to peace rather than anxiety.

Of course, this different response to anxiety is only possible because…

God has made a way for victory over anxiety

The simplest way for me to put this is victory over anxiety comes as I trust in God. (repeat) And, first and foremost, that is going to be through faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of my sins and salvation of my soul. As we discussed last week, this is the only way to receive a new, pure heart that can live for God.

Did you know that one of the purposes of Jesus’ life and ministry was to deliver us from fear? Listen to Hebrews 2:

Jesus took on flesh and blood so that he might destroy Satan through his substitutionary death on the cross and resurrection from the dead! This is the grand redemption plan that has successfully delivered all who trust in Christ from our greatest fear - the fear of death. The fear of death keeps humans enslaved to the pursuit of the pleasures and treasures of this life. We fixate on the concerns of this world because we “gotta pack it all in now”!

But when Christ gives you eternal life, breaking the power of the fear of death, now you can be freed from anxiety in this life. This life is not all there is. You have an eternal hope and life that cannot be taken from you! The most important thing about you is secure in heaven by the blood of Christ – you are His and you will be with Him in glory forever! This reality ought to have a drastic impact on how you process the rest of life.

Not only that, but because of Jesus’ incarnation, he continues to be our merciful and faithful high priest as we struggle with temptation and sin. His care is ongoing and present at all times! We can cry out to him for help in time of need, rather than giving ourselves over to anxiety. This is the same active response that the Apostle Peter encourages:

We can bring our anxieties to him and throw them at his feet. What an awesome image. Take them and forcefully cast them away from you to him. Because he cares for you. This is the way of humility. You are actively trusting God rather than trying to be in control.

I don’t know where I heard this next quote. I even tried to search it up but couldn’t find its source. “The presence of peace in our life requires the presence of trust in God, regardless of our circumstances.” (repeat) And he is trustworthy. Jesus Christ has proven that in his sacrificial death and resurrection for us.

If you have never recognized your need for Jesus Christ to rescue you from your sin and anxiety, then please heed this teaching today. God has made a way for victory over anxiety, but it’s not in your own strength. It’s through faith in Jesus as you actively trust the One, True God.

And from that posture of faith and trust, then you begin to exercise the fruit of self-control in your life. God the Holy Spirit produces such fruit in believers:

God has made a way for Christians to exercise restraint in our desires, thinking, speech, emotions and actions. Disordered desires do not need to rule us, but we can rule over them by the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit. In the context of our discussion today, this happens as we put off the response of anxiety and replace it with God’s desired response. This brings us to our final answer today for the question - what does God say about anxiety?

You must keep your heart by overcoming anxiety biblically

We have come full circle back to the idea of keeping the heart from Proverbs 4:23. We guard/protect our hearts from the response of anxiety by overcoming it biblically. Well what does that mean?

First, it means we must recognize that circumstances are not the CAUSE of sinful fear; they are the OCCASION for it. You could change your circumstances, and sinful fear can still return later under these new circumstances. This is not an external problem but an internal one! That’s what I’ve been trying to prove to you today.

But let’s assume that you are in a situation that tempts you towards anxiety. What then?

Allow occasions of fear to reveal the true nature of your faith.

What you think about God

Do I really believe he can be trusted?

Do I really believe he loves me?

Do I really believe he has a specific plan for me?

Do I really believe he is powerful? Sovereign? Good?

What does my fear/worry say about my working theology?

 

What you think about self

Am I one of God’s forgiven children?

Do I believe anything can separate me from his love?

Is my life about furthering my plan or his?

Am I willing to endure trials if that is the means God chooses to use to conform me to the image of Jesus and bring himself glory?

What does my fear/worry say about my view of self?

 

What you think about others

What are you afraid of people doing for/to you?

What are you afraid of people not doing for/to you?

What does your fear/worry say about your view of others?

These situations can help you learn a lot about your functional beliefs. There may be areas where your view of God/self/others is deficient from what God says in His Word and you need to address it. This may need to be aided by others. Faithful friends/spouse/SG/or a biblical counselor. They can help you see what you aren’t seeing. They can point out what is true when you are tempted to be overwhelmed by fear/doubts. They can protect you from a deceived heart! I personally have benefited from faithful friends/SG/spouse/counselors in my own life.

It is important to realize that the battle with anxiety is spiritual war. We must be intentional in it! It is possible to grow in how we think and respond so that we are quicker to believe the truth and live in light of it. Alongside of that is realizing that there are some seasons of life where this battle may intensify. You may be going through a season of health challenges or sleep deprivation (Can I get an amen from parents of newborns?) that makes it easier to indulge in anxiety. Do not neglect the importance of community in helping you hold fast to what is true!

You also need to realize that overcoming anxiety is an obedience issue. As we’ve studied in Philippians 4, there are multiple commands to obey in this passage.

Choose to rejoice in the Lord (Phil. 4:4)

Put off anxiousness by actively bringing everything to the Lord (Phil. 4:5-7)

In prayer and supplication with thanksgiving

Control your thinking (Phil. 4:8)

By actively recalling what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, praiseworthy, etc.,

Live the godly way modeled by Paul (Phil. 4:9)

He speaks from experience… He is not a mere idealist. (Phil. 4:10-13)

Paul was in jail. He had experienced incredible trials throughout his life and ministry. He had experienced humiliation and exaltation. He had faced plenty and hunger, abundance and need. And through all these circumstances of life, he had learned to trust God and be content. His soul was at rest. This is the context of the verse that so often gets taken out of context. “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” It’s a great verse for overcoming anxiety. It means I can rest contentedly in God no matter what he allows into my life. I will not have an anxious, fussy soul.

To put it in the words of King David:

These men are actively choosing to trust in the Lord. To place their hope in the Lord. To not strive after things in life that are outside of their control. And the outcome of this humble lifestyle of trusting in the Lord is a calm and quiet soul in the midst of the storms of life. It doesn’t mean the absence of storms, but rather that your focus is on the Lord rather than the wind and the waves.

Can you put yourself in their shoes? What might it look like to choose to trust the Lord in your temptations towards anxiety? How is God’s character relevant to the trials of your life? And where might you be lifting up your heart or setting your eyes too high to try to control things that are too great and too marvelous for you? As Jesus lovingly pointed out to the crowds in Matthew 6, even your daily bread and clothing are provided by God. Stop worrying and chasing after things you cannot control. Instead prioritize seeking God and his kingdom.

Let’s end with some practical principles for overcoming anxiety biblically:

Analyze your feelings/thoughts/desires/speech/actions in light of God’s Word

Am I responding the way God would want?

Confess and repent of any/all habits of unbelief and idolatry

If you find that you are anxious due to elevating other desires above the Lord and are now living as if God were not good, sovereign, and sufficient… confess it and ask for help in changing!

Recognize the necessity of the daily discipline of diving into God's Word

Cultivate new, well-worn paths in your heart and mind by saturating your life in the Word/Scripture

Think on it, meditate on it, rejoice in it (Ex. David in Psalm 131)

David and Paul’s consistent victories over anxiety did not happen overnight! They were men who loved the Lord and His Word and faithfully engaged with it. Prioritize seeking God and his kingdom in your own daily life!

Reflect on God’s faithfulness in providing for his creation (Matt. 6)

Rejoice in your identity in Christ (Rom. 8 or Eph. 1)

Learn to draw near to your sympathetic Savior to find grace and help in time of need (Heb. 4:14-16)

Recognize the wasteful nature of fear/worry (Matt. 6)

Develop a faithful prayer life that includes thanksgiving

Focus on fulfilling today’s responsibilities in the power of God

One of the lies of anxiety is that you’re “doing something”. But Jesus blows that out of the water. Anxiety produces nothing – at least nothing good! Rather than giving yourself over to it, focus on the next right thing to do and do it.

Practice loving God and others rather than focusing on self

Buy and read Consider the Lilies: Finding Perfect Peace in the Character of God

I listened to this earlier this year and it was so good that I purchased it in print so I could read it again every year moving forwards. It is that good. We also have many other wonderful resources on this topic in our library, so please check them out!

Let’s pray and ask for God’s help in this matter.

What Rules You? A Theology of the Heart

What does God say about your heart?

Your heart drives your life

Your heart has gone haywire

God has made a way for heart change

You must keep your heart

Manuscript:

Good morning, church family! Introduce self + welcome guests

Welcome to November, which in our church is also known as Stewardship Month! Stewardship month is an opportunity for us to learn about the principles of biblical stewardship. Biblical Stewardship is based on the understanding that God owns everything… which includes you and me and all that we have.

The Scriptures teach that this world is God’s and so is everything in it!

Everything is God’s. He owns it all! Which means that anything you have – life, health, possessions, and so on – have been entrusted to you by God. As your Creator, he is generously sharing these gifts with you for your careful management. That’s what it means to be a steward. You are a manager of the resources that God has entrusted to you.

If it was all His to begin with, then anything we have is given to us by Him. So, the question we must ask ourselves is, “What does God expect me to do with all that he has entrusted to me?” Time, talents, treasure, my life, my heart (our focus) it’s all his!

Well, the Apostle Paul sets a helpful example in 1 Corinthians 4:1-2.

Just like Paul, we are to view ourselves as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. And not just any kind of steward, but faithful stewards.

God expects us to take what He has entrusted to us – His truth, His world, our lives - and to be faithful with them. I want to share with you four stewardship principles that drive how we think about stewardship:

God owns everything, I own nothing

God entrusts me with everything I have

I can either be a wise or poor steward of what God has entrusted to me; He wants me to be a wise steward

God can call me to give an account at any time and it could be today

I also want to make you aware of some resources the church has provided to help you grow as faithful stewards. (Stewardship Resources Slide)

Please take advantage of these tools. They are for your spiritual growth and the glory of God. I would love to see every person, every family unit growing in obedience to God in these areas. I have personally benefited greatly from learning and following God’s teaching with my life.

In our sermon series this November, we are focusing on What Rules You? We are addressing the stewardship of our heart. When I say heart, I am not referring to the literal organ within our bodies, I mean it as the Bible speaks about it - our inner-man or inner-woman. As Pastor Paul Tripp says, “The causal core of our personhood – what makes you…you!”

Or as Pastor and Theologian J.I. Packer puts it:

We are studying what the Bible has to say about this matter, because understanding the heart is the key to understanding our lives – why we do what we do… why we feel what we feel… why we say what we say… why we think what we think. As we will see today, all of this comes back to what is happening in our heart.

Today I intend to take us on a biblical overview of the heart. We will be looking at what God says in both Old and New Testaments to build our theology of the heart. I want to help us understand why this is so essential for humanity and living out our faith. Today will also set up the following weeks where we will look at common ruling heart attitudes:

11/8 - What Rules You? Anxiety

11/15 - What Rules You? Despair

11/22 - What Rules You? Foolishness

11/29 - What Rules You? Anger

Our pastor team believes a series like this will help our church grow in understanding some key areas of our Christian walk – “Why do we do what we do/think what we think/feel what we feel?” and “How can we change?” I’m sure many of you know how easy it is to be overwhelmed by emotion or to struggle with your thinking, speech and behavior… these are common struggles for all of us. Yet God is not surprised by any of this and has given us tremendous answers and helps in His Word and His Spirit! We do not have to be ruled by our emotions/thoughts/behaviors, but, with God’s help, we can rule over them and have a rightly ordered heart.

As a pastor team, we desire to see more of our church family understanding and rightly handling the desires of their heart. For when you do so, it will provide you with more consistent victory over temptation and sin. It will bring more peace and self-control to your life. And, ultimately, it will bring much glory to God and joy to you!

Because the heart is the central core of our volition (will), intellect, character, and desire it is the primary battleground between spiritual light and darkness. As we hear in both Old and New Testaments, the greatest command is to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” We were created to love God with all we have in our inner-man/woman! Yet the Bible consistently reveals that humanity has struggled to carry this out since the Garden of Eden where our first ancestors chose sinful rebellion over humble obedience. Our enemy, Satan, delights to tempt and mislead us into loving anything other than the Lord! And he has gotten really good at it over the years. Billions of people currently on our earth have no interest in loving the One, True God but would rather spend their lives in pursuit of selfish treasures and pleasures.

This is a timely discussion with an urgent application to everyone on earth. I hope you will lock in and pay attention throughout this series. My prayer is that we would hear of people being set free from sin and darkness as they learn to love the Lord with all their heart for the very first time. But I also pray for those who already profess faith in Christ to see increased victory over habitual, enslaving patterns in their own lives.

Now, here is the question driving our discussion today:

We begin our study in Proverbs 4:23, a verse I shared with you last week:

Here we have King Solomon, the wisest man to ever live, speaking about the importance of keeping/guarding/protecting your heart and to do so with all vigilance or diligence. Why is it so important to protect or keep your heart? “For from it flow the springs of life.” Solomon is using language that depicts the heart as the wellspring or fount of waters from which the rest of life is flowing. As your heart goes, so goes the rest of your life. Your heart sets the direction of your life.

This is also what we see taught by Jesus, the Son of God, in the New Testament. Listen to his teaching:

Did you hear it? Out of the abundance of the heart… his mouth speaks. Jesus uses the analogy of a fruit tree to make the same point as King Solomon in Proverbs 4. What you cultivate in your heart will directly influence the fruit of your daily life – your speech, your actions, your thinking and emotions… Jesus has a very similar teaching in Mark’s Gospel:

Jesus reaffirms this understanding of the heart and its influence on your life. What does God say about your heart?

Your heart drives your life

The tree analogy is helpful for understanding this… (Image) The heart is the root of the tree, and the external behaviors (speech/thinking/emotions/actions) are the fruit. This is important to understand. What you allow to rule your heart will exercise inescapable influence over the rest of your life! (repeat)

The fruit of our lives, whether good or evil, originates in our heart. Your mouth speaks from what is in your heart. Your emotions flow from what is in your heart. There is no getting around this understanding according to the Word of God and the Son of God. This is a very sobering reality.

Pastor Paul Tripp, in his excellent marriage series What Did You Expect, tells of a valuable lesson he learned related to this when his drunk uncle began saying very perverse things at a wedding. Paul was a child at the time, and his mother came and pulled him away and told him, “Remember that there is nothing that comes out of the mouth of a drunk that was not already in his heart.” The alcohol just loosened the lips; it didn’t put those perverse desires in his heart.

What this means for us is that the next time you’re thinking of saying, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to say that!” It would be more accurate to say, “I’m sorry for saying what I meant!” What you said came from your heart; you’re simply embarrassed that you didn’t keep it from coming out! This is a very humbling lesson, if you allow it to be. We cannot make excuses for our fruit, rather we must do the hard work of getting to the heart of it so it can change.

Have you thought about your heart in this way before? Do you view it as the control center of your life? If not, I hope what you’re hearing from God’s Word is helping you put some pieces of this puzzle together. There is more yet to come!

If you have heard this before, do you have a practice of getting to the heart of your struggles? Do you know how to figure out why you’re doing what you’re doing or saying what you’re saying? If not, we’re going to get there by the end of this sermon, so stay with me.

Before we develop that, we must address directly what has already been brought up tangentially. What does God say about your heart?

Your heart has gone haywire

When I say haywire, I mean your heart is out of order. It is not functioning properly. You have disordered desires. You were created to find your first and greatest delight in God, yet you do not! And I can prove this biblically.

As I mentioned earlier, this problem began in the Garden of Eden, in Genesis 3. Let’s look at this scene that captures the origin of our problem:

Eve saw. She desired. She took and ate. And so did Adam. Together they turned their hearts away from desiring God first and most and pursued their own gain, in explicit disobedience to God!

It is easy to miss the significance and depth of rebellion that is happening here. It happens so quickly and our culture has excused so much sin that this seems almost like a non-issue to so many. Let me share a quote by Puritan Preacher John Flavel that really exposes the depth of this sin:

*pause*

Anytime we are tempted to minimize the sin and rebellion of Adam and Eve, or our own sin, it is because we have first minimized our view of God in all his Authority and Glory. Sin led humanity to seek self-dependence rather than God-dependence. Sin led us to turn from desiring and loving the Chief Good to desiring and loving self. Sin led us to disobey the Highest Lord as we put our will before his. Sin denies God’s supremacy as the ultimate End of all things by putting self at the center of the universe.

*pause*

A heart this disordered leads to a life that is disordered. Haywire. Not functioning properly –not living for the glory of God, not finding our soul’s delight in him, not having him as our First Love and Greatest Desire.

As you might expect, this leads to utter chaos following Genesis 3. The disordered desires of their son, Cain, led him to murder his brother Abel. The sinfulness of Lamech’s heart led him to brag about his vengeance as greater than Cain’s. By the time we get to Genesis 6, we read the following:

In just 10 generations, the overall heart posture of the entire human race, except Noah, was only evil continually. And the Lord was deeply grieved by this! The people he had made to be his image-bearers to enjoy fellowship and life with him had become corrupt to their core and lived wicked lives. If you are familiar with your Bibles, you know that God judged the earth soon after this with the flood.

Many, many years later, when God sent the prophet Jeremiah to the nation of Israel to confront them in their sin, this is what he concluded about the heart:

God’s assessment of the human heart is that it is more deceitful than anything else and desperately sick! This is a frightening assessment by our Creator. This is a sweeping indictment of humanity. Without God intervening, we are told that our hearts pursue evil and are corrupted by sin. The theological term for this is total depravity.

About this Flavel rightly warns:

Outside of God’s work in our hearts, we will live selfishly. It’s the only way we can live. And that heart posture will direct the rest of our lives, our thoughts, emotions, words, and actions. This is what we see going on all around us every single day in our unbelieving world. Haywire hearts that are living selfishly. And do not be fooled, this is our struggle too.

In both Old and New Testaments, God speaks to the problem of wayward hearts. Through the prophet Ezekiel, he said:

The people of Israel had taken their physical idolatry and moved it to heart idolatry. They were preferring something other than God. His call was to repent and turn away from such wicked heart desires.

This was not unique to the Old Testament. In the New Testament, the Apostle James writes a short but similar rebuke:

James also points out the reality of an internal war of our passions/desires. There is something going on inside every single one of us, in our inner-man/woman that leads to great conflict and chaos in life. It is a war of desires. A war for the heart.

Ever since Adam and Eve, humanity has struggled with preferring/desiring things other than God. We elevate other desires above glorifying God/pleasing Him. This disorders the rest of life.

I believe you know this to be true. I’m not sure I need to work too hard to convince you. You’ve all experienced quarrels and fighting with others due to conflicting desires of the heart. You’ve likely experienced your own internal battles as you have many desires warring within your own heart every day!

Do I respond to the guy who cut me off in rage or not?

How will I treat the person who just made fun of me in front of my friends?

Surely my selfish use of time tonight is justified after I worked hard all day!

I can’t believe my spouse treated me that way; time to put them in their place!

What a rough day! What can I find in the cupboard/fridge or online to comfort me?

My brother/sister borrowed my stuff without asking again! How am I going to respond next?

You get the idea… A war of desires within. We’ve all experienced it. The Bible accurately diagnoses our condition and need.

Let us learn from King David, when he cried out in distress in Psalm 51 after his adultery with Bathsheba:

What we really need is a new heart. A clean or pure heart that is not ruled by sin any longer! And the only person who can do that for us is God. And praise the Lord, that has always been his plan! He has told us about it through his prophets:

These Old Testament prophets were pointing ahead to what God would do! He would not leave his people stuck with hearts of stone that were dead in sin. He would make a way for them to receive new hearts that are led by the Spirit of God. A heart that can obey and love God.

What they only knew in part and pointed towards, we have the privilege of knowing in whole. We have the benefit of living after Jesus Christ has come and fulfilled these prophetic promises. Jesus is the One who makes this heart transformation possible.

During his life and ministry, Jesus taught Nicodemus about the necessity of being born of the Spirit to enter God’s kingdom. We read about that in John 3.

Nicodemus struggled to grasp what Jesus was saying about being born again. He got caught up in the physical sense, but Jesus was speaking of being born again spiritually. That the heart that was dead in sin could be made alive by the Spirit through faith in Christ. The theological term for this is regeneration. This is what happens when God transforms our hearts in salvation.

Jesus even told his disciples that he was inaugurating the New Covenant that Jeremiah and Ezekiel had foretold. We find it in the Gospel accounts of the Last Supper. Here is one example from the Gospel of Luke:

Jesus reveals that the plan of God to give sinners a new heart that can obey and love him is through Jesus’ sacrificial, substitutionary death for us! Understanding this helps us grasp the depth of our sin problem. You cannot change your heart. God must work in you by His Spirit through faith in Christ to accomplish it.

Jesus taught his disciples that this must take place:

God has made a way for heart change

God the Father sent God the Son to rescue and redeem sinners like us and by the work of God the Holy Spirit we are given new hearts to believe and follow him. The Apostle Paul beautifully summarizes God’s redemptive work in his letter to Titus:

Do you hear who we are outside of faith in Christ? Foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures… Our hearts were following self, not God. Ruled by our own selfish desires – what do I think will please me? And the fruit of this kind of self-focused heart was terrible – we were enslaved to our desires. We lived wickedly, using our words, emotions, thinking, and actions to promote self at all costs.

But God! Jesus stepped into our mess. He provided a way of salvation. Not because of anything we had done. But according to his own mercy. How? By the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit. Salvation is God’s work in human hearts to change them from stone to flesh, from defiled to pure, enabling and empowering what was once dead to come to life and desire to live for and love God most.

This is incredibly GOOD NEWS this morning! Through faith in Christ, you have the privilege of being co-heirs of eternal life. You can now live this life with a heart that loves God and pursues God. As Paul declared to the Galatians:

This is the cry of a heart that has been changed by God! No longer do I want to live for myself, but I am excited to live for God! “Lord, help me to put off the old ways and put on a fruitful life for you!”

There are many passages that speak to this, which we do not have time to fully unpack or study. To get you started, I would recommend John chapters 15-16 to you. Study Jesus’ words about abiding in Christ and the Spirit’s work in convicting and equipping you.

Once again Flavel says it so well:

Thus the soul which sin had universally depraved, is by grace restored. This being pre-supposed, it will not be difficult to apprehend what it is to keep the heart, which is nothing but the constant care and diligence of such a renewed man to preserve his soul in that holy frame to which grace has raised it.” (Keeping the Heart, pg 18)

Flavel’s words bring us full circle back to Proverbs 4:23 and instruct us on our final lesson for today of what God says about your heart.

You must keep your heart

As we heard earlier, God calls you to keep your heart. To watch over or protect it with all vigilance. There is urgency to this matter and a necessary consistency to it as well! We are to be constantly using all of God’s provided means to protect our heart from sin and to keep it in communion with God.

Why? Because temptation and sin knock our heart out of tune! As the ancient hymn Come Thou Fount so beautifully captures:

daily I’m constrained to be!

Let that grace now, like a fetter,

bind my wandering heart to thee.

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,

prone to leave the God I love;

here’s my heart; O take and seal it;

seal it for thy courts above.

We are told and know first-hand that we are locked in a battle for our hearts! The Apostle Paul testifies to this in Romans 7.

Paul captures so well the battle that rages in every Christian. The flesh against the Spirit. The Spirit against the flesh.

This battle is raging all the time, and we would be wise to be aware of it and engaged in it! Because whatever rules your heart will drive the rest of your life. Do you want a harvest of righteousness? Do you want to know the peace of God that transcends all understanding? Then go to war with the desires of your heart to desire God and his glory above all else. Keep him as the First Love of your life.

How are we to do this? By cooperating with the Spirit’s work in us. Paul models and teaches this for us. In his writings to the Philippians, he challenged them to continue to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling, even as God works within them. They were to cooperate with God’s work, not hinder it! In his letters to the Romans and Galatians he taught them to walk by the Spirit, not the flesh.

Romans 8 or Galatians 5 are great chapters to study further about this. Since we don’t have time to read those this morning, I’ll share a shorter teaching from Romans 13:

Christians are to put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. NO PROVISION. NONE. That is a very tall order. What tempts you? What is going to lead you to try to be satisfied in something other than Jesus? Identify these things and get rid of them! Make the necessary changes in your life to eliminate these temptations. Fix your eyes on Christ and pursue him! Keep the majesty of the Lord always before you. And, as you do so, you will experience the joy of a transformed and transforming life.

Here’s what this looks like on a daily basis:

Put in the work to understand the desires of your heart.

What am I wanting? Take time to evaluate the state of your heart!

How is this driving my emotions/thinking/speech/actions?

What does God say about it? Dig into his Word to know!

What needs to change to please Christ?

Do not only address the fruit, but the root! When you choose sin, your desires are disordered. You are believing a lie rather than the truth about Christ. Identify the lie and replace it with the truth. As your desire changes, your fruit will change.

Scripture speaks very specifically to putting off old ways and putting on new ways, while renewing our mind with truth.

Cry out to God for help in changing! Have a deep humiliation for heart evils/disorders and seek to change!

Ex) Ps. 19:12-14, 51:10, 86:11-13

David is a superb example for us of crying out to God for help. I want to close the sermon with these cries and then pray them for us. In the coming weeks, we will flesh out specific ways to carry out what we’ve learned here today.

Wanted: Faithful Disciples, Repentant Sinners

Luke 14:25-15:10

What does God desire from us?

Prioritize Jesus above all else

Embrace a life of self-sacrifice and allegiance to Christ

Renounce earthly attachments to follow Jesus

Delight in the pursuit of sinners for repentance

Manuscript:

Good morning, church family! Introduce self + welcome guests

Have you ever had the experience where you attend a church service, listen to the teaching of God’s Word, and feel like the message that day was written for you? I am confident many of you have. Just last week I talked to a few people who conveyed this. As a pastor, I love hearing how God is working through his word and Spirit. But I also wanted to share with you that, as the pastor, we often have a similar, yet slightly different experience while we are preaching. Let me explain. At Harvest we plan the preaching calendar for the next year between September-October of the current year, which means that this sermon was planned for this date roughly 1 year ago. I love that because when I have multiple conversations during my week that this passage speaks to, I know it reveals God’s plan and timing. I didn’t know I’d have those conversations or that these people would be going through the things they are, but he did. He knew they would need to hear this message in this season of life, for their good and his glory. And I praise God for that! He is an incredibly loving and intentional Creator and Savior.

Now, this section of Luke’s Gospel has traced Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem. And most recently, his confrontations and instructions with the religious hypocrites of his day. He has been warning them that the door is narrow for salvation. He has called them out for lacking compassion and mercy for those in need. He rebuked their pride as they engaged in self-exaltation and refused the invitation to the kingdom banquet. Yet as he has rebuked the hypocrites, he has also been demonstrating kindness and compassion to the broken and hurting, demonstrating that God’s kingdom will be full of those least expected, at least in man’s eyes. The self-righteous, proud religious hypocrites will not be in the kingdom of God. But those who recognize their spiritual poverty and respond to the call of Christ by faith in him will be in his kingdom.

As we return to the text this morning, we are going to be confronted by Jesus’ plain teaching about what is necessary to follow him. If you’ve ever wondered what it means to be a Christian or what God expects of us in living out our faith, wonder no longer. Jesus is going to tell you in this passage. But prepare your heart to receive his teaching. It is not an easy calling. Yet it is a calling worth pursuing!

Let’s turn our attention now to the first portion of our text.

Great crowds gather and Jesus gives them some light teaching to tickle their ears… Oh wait that’s not how he handled the crowd at all! I love this about Jesus – as the crowds get larger, he speaks hard but necessary truth to them. He isn’t interested in tickling ears and simply gathering a large crowd of people who are not committed to following Christ into the kingdom of God. As we have just heard from his own mouth, Jesus wants fully committed followers who count the cost of coming after him. And the cost of following Jesus is HIGH! Yet this is the way of life for someone who enters through the narrow door and enjoys dining at God’s kingdom banquet. If the Pharisees will not show the people the way to godly living and eternal life, Jesus will!

The title of our sermon is Wanted: Faithful Disciples, Repentant Sinners. This is an attempt to highlight the response that God desires from each of us. And as we study today, we are seeking to flesh out the answer to the question:

Let’s take the answers as they come, starting in verse 26 where Jesus said, “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…”

Pretty shocking, isn’t it? What do you mean by ‘hate’, Jesus? Are Christians supposed to turn against their own family? No. That is not what Jesus is teaching here. That would contradict his teaching in other places where he has told us that one of the greatest commandments is to love your neighbor as yourself, which includes your family! We must allow the Bible to interpret the Bible. It does not contradict itself. When Jesus says ‘hate’ in this teaching he is speaking rhetorically – using this word to make a point; he is saying you must love your family and your own life less than Jesus. Jesus must be your first and greatest love. Or to put it another way… He is saying you must...

Prioritize Jesus above all else

This is what it means to follow Christ. He is your first priority! He is the one you desire and live for above all else. It is a call to let nothing come between you and your Savior/God. Not even your closest family relationships. Nor your desire for comfort or self-protection. Your love for Jesus must come first, before everything else!

Now notice Jesus is teaching this to the great crowds who were accompanying him. He is putting his cards on the table, so to speak. He is laying out for them what it means to follow him, to be his disciple. He is not concealing the cost but advertising it up front! THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IF YOU’RE GOING TO FOLLOW ME! ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO DO THIS?

I’m convinced that this is an area that the American church has dropped the ball on over the decades. There has been so much focus on getting people to pray a prayer or make a decision for Christ often without ever explaining to them the cost of following Jesus. And what I have witnessed happen repeatedly is that many become disillusioned with Christianity when they begin to realize that they cannot claim Christ and still live however they want. That Christ expects their entire lives to change and be oriented around him. For many that cost is too high, but no one ever told them about it!

Jesus is so loving and kind to tell us up front - “Here’s what it means to follow me. Make sure you’re ready for this commitment!”

Following him would have had very real implications for Jesus’ first century audience. The choice to follow and prioritize him would have created controversy in many of their households. To leave Judaism or Greek/Roman paganism for Christ would immediately divide families. Your parents may disown you. Your spouse may grow hostile towards you or even divorce you. Your community may ostracize you or even cast you out. Will these cause you to stop following Jesus or will you prioritize him? These are real choices with real consequences for them… and for many others around our world to this day. There are countless testimonies of former Muslims or Hindus or atheists converting to Christianity and facing immediate hostility in their home or community.

While it might be tempting to think that this would not happen in America, the land of the free, you’d be mistaken. This happens in households where husband and wife were formerly cultural Christians, and one comes to authentic faith in Christ! Suddenly the believing spouse wants to live out their faith and change, but that doesn’t sit well with the other who wants to remain unchanged and worldly. Following Jesus still divides households here, and it also shows up in your treatment by your peers or in the workplace. When I was a college student and when I pastored college students, it was not uncommon to face tremendous peer pressure to forget your faith and party with your friends. Or to conform to the godless worldview of your professors. I’ve seen this same pattern repeated for adults who are trying to leave an old life behind and live for Christ. “Come back to the bars with us! You’re such a prude now that you’re a Christian! You’re no fun anymore.” Our society mocks Christianity all the time, and it has become the faith where it is socially acceptable to criticize it. When you inevitably face such pressure, how will you respond? Will you stand firm in your faith or will you forsake Christ? This teaching is very relevant to us today.

If you are going to be a Christian, then Jesus must be your first love. All other loves come after him. What is most important about me is that I follow Jesus. After that comes being a godly husband to Micaela and father to the kids. Is being a husband, father, or even pastor important? Of course! But even these priorities come after my first priority of loving and serving Jesus.

Now, what I think is amazing, is that God has designed things so that this is the way that makes me the best possible husband, father, and pastor! So, it is not as if my family suffers or the church suffers when I prioritize Jesus, quite the contrary! The rest of life flourishes as we prioritize our first love – Jesus! This is true for all of us. So, let’s talk about that.

Protecting time to know and worship him

If he is going to be the most important relationship in your life, then you’ve got to spend time with him and seek to know him!

Study of his Word + prayer (elaborate on this)

Don’t let other things get in the way of pursuing your first love!

Protect time for him.

Do you have a plan to be in God’s Word regularly? To pray daily?

A time and a place.

Intentional in what you’re reading and praying.

Annual Bible Reading Plans

Intentionally obeying him

As you learn his commands, do them! Be a hearer and a doer of the Word!

It’s always good to ask– How do I need to change as a result of what I’ve read?

Is there ongoing evidence of change in your life?

Are you a more mature Christian today than you were on January 1st of this year?

If not, ask your SG or a pastor or faithful Christian friend for help.

Saying no to temptation and sin

If something is going to come between you and your first love, what should you do? Fiercely kill it! (Speaking of temptation and sin)

You need to become an expert at recognizing your own patterns of temptation, so you can be ready to respond quickly and faithfully against it!

Proverbs 4:23 - “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”

Explain the passage

“Be killing sin lest it be killing you!” – John Owen

This is an everyday battle.

(Slide) And, at times, as I already shared, this may mean you have to say “NO” to another person who is trying to get you to go back to old ways of life that do not please Christ. “No, I won’t go out to the bar with you. No, I’m not going to get into this argument with you. No, I’m not going to lie to my parents about where I’m going and who I’m with.”

One cannot follow Jesus and persist in unrepentant sin/sinful relationships. We are dead to that! And so, we must make a break with it/them as we pursue Christ. And it is worth it! He is worth it!

There are other ways to prioritize Jesus above all else, but it begins to get into the very teaching he gave next in verse 27. Let’s hear it again:

Rather than softening the cost of following him, Jesus builds upon what he just said in verse 26! This is very similar to his previous teaching recorded in Luke 9:25:

Bear his own cross... take up his cross daily! What does God desire of us? Jesus tells us he wants us to...

Embrace a life of self-sacrifice and allegiance to Christ

This idea of bearing your own cross is speaking to a willingness to endure persecution, even death for Christ. This is an incredible level of devotion that is required as a disciple of Jesus. And notice that this is to be done daily! It is an ongoing lifestyle, not a one-time event. Today I pick up my cross and follow him. Tomorrow I will pick up my cross and follow him. The day after that, guess what I’ll do? Take up my cross and follow him!

Embracing a life of self-sacrifice and allegiance to Christ is a daily decision. Which is why it is so important to protect time to draw near to Christ through the Word and prayer! Who naturally lives this way? No one! We need God’s help to reorient our heart day after day.

And I know you may be tempted to think, “Wow this is pretty melodramatic, don’t you think? Be willing to endure persecution and even death for Christ? What are the odds of that?”

James – beheaded by King Herod Agrippa (Acts 12)

Peter, Andrew, Philip – all crucified

Nathanael, Thomas, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon – all killed in horrific ways for their faith

John – exiled to the island of Patmos where he died of old age

Each of these men paid a very high price for following Christ! He was preparing them and us for the extreme opposition that comes when you renounce the world to follow Jesus.

It did not end with the first disciples of Jesus.

Polycarp of Smyrna (died 155 AD) – a disciple of the Apostle John was arrested by the Romans and burned at the stake

Justin Martyr (died 165 AD) – a philosopher who converted to Christianity and wrote major apologies defending Christian doctrine and conduct against the Roman slanders, he was beheaded along with six companions under the reign of Marcus Aurelius

Perpetua and Felicity (died 203 AD) – two Christian young women who refused to offer sacrifices for the Emperor’s welfare were put into the arena to face wild beasts and then executed by the sword

Jan Hus (died 1415) – A priest deeply influenced by John Wycliffe’s writings who insisted that the Bible stood as the supreme religious authority above the papacy. He was imprisoned, tried for heresy and burned at the stake. His death influenced Martin Luther for the Protestant Reformation a century later.

William Tyndale (died 1536) – An English scholar, priest, and linguist whose life’s mission was to translate the Bible directly into English so laymen could read the Scriptures for themselves. He was arrested, condemned for heresy, and burned at the stake.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (died 1945) – A German Lutheran pastor who was a founding member of the Confessing Church, which actively resisted Nazi control, was arrested and spent two years in prison before being hanged.

It gets even more recent than that:

Pastor Han Chung-Ryeol (died 2016) - For decades, Pastor Han led a Three-Self church in the border city of Changbai, China, directly across the Yalu River from North Korea. In the 1990s, when catastrophic famine drove thousands of starving North Koreans across the frozen river, Pastor Han provided food, warm clothing, shelter, and medical care. Crucially, he also gave them the Gospel and Bibles. Rather than encouraging defectors to flee to South Korea, Pastor Han urged those who came to faith to take the message back home to their families. This resulted in North Korean assassins carrying out a plot to kill him, eventually doing so on April 30th, 2016.

Pastor Pratap and Nikhil - Two Christians were attacked and injured during a prayer gathering in western India in March of 2026. Pastor Pratap was praying in the home of a Christian named Nikhil when a large crowd of radicals gathered, entered the house and started beating Pratap. Nikhil and his children tried to protect the pastor, but they were also injured. Members of the mob filed charges against Pratap and Nikhil, and both required several days of hospital care for their injuries. Nikhil, a former alcoholic and troublemaker who was led to Christ by Pastor Pratap, said his family has experienced many miracles, including his transformation, and that this experience of persecution has made their faith in Christ stronger. “I will not turn back from my Christian faith,” he said. “There’s no going back, even if they put a lot of pressure on us.”

The violence directed against Christians and churches in Nigeria represents one of the most severe humanitarian and religious freedom crises in the modern world. International human rights monitors, including Open Doors International and Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), consistently report that more Christians are killed for their faith in Nigeria each year than in the rest of the world combined.

You may not be called upon to face death for Christ, but you are called to be willing to face it. Will you count this cost? It is necessary to follow Christ. Nothing can come in the way of our allegiance to him.

And, if you think about this, Jesus is serving us by telling us this cost upfront. If we are willing to count this cost, even to death, then we will be better prepared to face the lesser forms of persecution for him. We will not back down from sharing the Gospel even if our family or friends mock us for it. We will not be ashamed of Christ even though our culture slanders us. We will be willing to lose our jobs for standing up for what is right and pleasing to God. We will be willing to face rejection and ridicule as we share Christ with our lost and broken world.

If you are going to stand for Christ in a hostile world, then you must count the cost of following him – daily. I know that I need to hear this exhortation repeatedly in my life. I assume you do as well. *pause*

*pause*

Jesus encourages this process of self-evaluation when he shares the two scenarios in verses 28-32. He speaks of a builder who does the due diligence to understand whether he can afford the project he is about to undertake. If he doesn’t, he will fail the project and be the laughingstock of his town. He then speaks of a king who is about to go to war who wisely evaluates whether he is able to defeat his opponent who has superior numbers. These are examples of putting consideration into what Jesus is calling for here. This is an intensely personal calling. What cost does Nick Lees need to count to follow Christ? What cost does ____ need to count to follow Christ? We must put time and thought into this matter if we are going to follow Christ and finish the race!

And out of this teaching, Jesus concludes in verse 33:

Jesus is again pointing out that he must be your first love, your first priority. Nothing can come in the way of following him! What does God desire of us?

Renounce earthly attachments to follow Jesus

Oftentimes, especially in America, our main distractions are going to be the possessions we have or the pursuit of the ones we do not have yet. We have heard Jesus hit on this idea multiple times in the Gospel of Luke – materialism hinders discipleship. If you love the things of the world too much, it will choke out the good fruit of following Christ.

As I stated earlier, anyone who is going to follow Christ must be committed to an ongoing vigilance against temptation and sin. Are you aware where you are most tempted to love earthly attachments over Jesus? A good way to discern this is to look for where you are sinning to get what you want or sinning when you don’t get what you want.

You choose a job/promotion that will hinder your God-given role in your home

You spend $$$ on something you want but hide it from your spouse (lying)

You spend countless hours researching and daydreaming about XYZ thing, but you neglect your time in the Word or meditating on it for change

You care far too much about your physical appearance, desiring the attention or affection of others

You are discontent with your circumstances and you grumble (life stage, marital status, spouse, bank account, job role, kids behavior, etc.,)

These are just some examples that might stir up your own awareness of where you are loving earthly attachments in a way that hinders following Christ. We must not value anything more than we value Christ.

And what follows in verses 34-35 is a warning about failing to live this way.

One who began to follow Christ but did not count the cost will become like useless salt. They will fail to finish the race. This is not speaking of losing your salvation, but of saying, “I follow Christ” yet not actually counting the cost of following him. This is someone who was never saved but thought they were. Yet over time, their way of life revealed that they were not prioritizing Jesus. They slowly became more and more worldly. They were not faithful disciples. Faithful disciples endure and persevere in righteousness to the end.

This warning should grab our attention. It should burn in our hearts. “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Jesus wants the crowds to pay attention and respond to his challenging teaching! These are matters of eternal life or eternal judgment.

What follows next in Luke 15 records the responses to Jesus. Let’s see what happens next.

Who has ears to hear? The tax collectors and sinners. They draw near to hear. Who does nto hear? The Pharisees and the scribes! What a surprising outcome (or not if you’ve been paying attention throughout the Gospel).

This calling to hear and respond in faith to Jesus is for people who recognize they are sinners! The self-righteous think this isn’t for them, and they refuse to enter the kingdom. But those who are broken and humbled by their sin are in the perfect position to hear and believe in Christ!

If you are here and you have believed the lie that you are too far gone to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, then realize that is not what Jesus says! That is a lie from the Devil! These parables that Jesus shares in verses 3-10 confront this lie by revealing the joy and delight that God and the heavenly host have in the salvation of sinners. God desires your salvation! He wants you to turn from your sin and follow him. He wants you to enter his eternal kingdom. As we heard last week, there is plenty of room at God’s kingdom banquet, so come and enter in through faith in Jesus Christ! Turn from your sin and follow him!

If you are here and you have believed the lie that you are a pretty good person and will be in God's kingdom because of your own goodness, then realize that is a lie from the Devil as well. Jesus confronted that in our passage last week. God’s Word is very clear that we are all sinners who are in need of a Savior. No one gets to the Father except by faith in Jesus Christ!

Even though Jesus’ purpose in sharing this parable was to rebuke the Pharisees for their hypocrisy, I do believe that we can observe one more of God’s desires for us in it.

Delight in the pursuit of sinners for repentance

These parables reveal the heart of God. Jesus seeks out sinners and rescues/redeems them! Heaven rejoices at such redemptive work! So too should Christians! In other passages we are called ambassadors of the Savior. We are to be seeking the lost on behalf of God.

Your willingness to live this way ought to be fueled by the disposition of the Father/Son/Spirit – they delight in sinners being saved! This is what the Pharisees missed. They could not stomach the idea of spending time with sinners. They thought they were to be set apart and only spend time with others who were like them.

Jesus blows this idea out of the water. How will anyone enter God’s kingdom if no one spends time with them to tell them about Christ? How can they know the love of God without someone demonstrating it and teaching it to them? As Jesus will make clear at the end of his life and ministry, his disciples are to go into the world and make disciples. It’s not a “come and see” faith but a “go and tell” faith!

Christians must have the same heart as God and delight in the pursuit of sinners for repentance. By repentance, we mean turning from sin to live for God. To help others count the cost of following Christ, just as we are.

Last week I mentioned a resource we hand out at the beginning of every year in the 5-3-1 card. (5 you pray over; 3 you are intentionally evangelizing; 1 you are discipling)

This year we also created this little handout to help our church grow in courageous evangelism. (Hold up brochure) The idea was to help us plan to have two intentional gospel conversations and to invite one person to church each month. How has that gone this year? I will admit that I have not done a great job at keeping this on our radar throughout the year. I want to finish the year better than I have done so far. What about you?

There is much joy in heaven over one sinner who repents... God desires to forgive you and welcome you into his family. What is it that is keeping you from faith in Jesus Christ?

Whatever it is, it is not worth it. Counting the cost of following Christ is far better than living selfishly in this life and facing eternal judgment in the next life.

Let’s pray and ask God for help in counting the cost to follow him.

Missing the Kingdom

Luke 13:31-14:24

Learning from Jesus’ interactions with the religious leaders

Jesus will fulfill his mission

Jesus is faithful to confront and instruct

God’s kingdom banquet will happen, and the participants will surprise you

Manuscript:

Good morning, church family! Introduce self + welcome guests

Today we pick right back up where Pastor Jack left off last week. Jesus is on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying towards Jerusalem. He has just taught them about the narrow door and warned about the dangers of waiting until it is too late to repent and be saved. I really appreciated Jack’s warning last week that it is not enough to be Jesus adjacent – around the things of Christ but not truly submitting our lives to him in faith and repentance. This is what Jesus is repeatedly making clear to the people of his day. It will not do to trust in your religious activity, your intellectual assent to the things of God, or in your proximity to Jesus. If you are going to be reclining at the table in the kingdom of God, then you must enter through the narrow door, which is faith in Jesus Christ.

We are studying another lengthy portion of text today, wherein Jesus interacts quite a bit with the religious leaders. The way that he responds to these men and their behavior becomes our learning opportunity. That is our aim today:

It is to your benefit if you pay attention to what these men are doing and then learn from how Jesus responds to them. With that in mind, let’s turn our attention to the passage for today. This first part takes place on the exact same day as the warning to enter through the narrow door that we heard about last week.

What an incredible interaction between Jesus and these men! We are not told the motives of the Pharisees in coming to Jesus. Commentators are divided about it as well. Perhaps the Pharisees were truly seeking to help Jesus by warning him. I am doubtful about that view as it seems to contradict the current mood of the Pharisees towards Jesus. We have seen in previous chapters that their hostility towards Jesus is increasing. To me it seems more likely that they are trying to get rid of him through fear. However, whatever their motive might be, Jesus is not swayed by their warning. He refuses to be cowed by the threat of physical harm. He commands them to tell Herod that he is on a mission, and he will not deviate from it until it is accomplished. He even calls Herod a fox, indicating that he views Herod as a sly, manipulative pest who is actively opposing the plan of God. Foxes were known for their cunning yet also portrayed as pests who ruined vineyards. Remember that Herod had beheaded John the Baptist not long ago. Jesus is well aware that Herod opposes the prophets of God and kingdom of God, yet he is not afraid of him. He will not be dissuaded from accomplishing the mission he and the Father had planned! This is our first lesson for this morning...

Jesus will fulfill his mission

And what is his mission? He is the Son of God who has been sent to bring in the kingdom of God by calling the people of God to enter his kingdom through faith and repentance. (repeat) He is the culmination of a long line of prophets who have come before him crying out to repent and believe!

And like many of the prophets before him, he must end his journey in Jerusalem, the city that frequently killed the very messengers of God who had been sent to it! Consider this… Jesus knew that he was going to his death, yet he marched onwards. Nothing would keep him from obeying his Father’s will.

And as he declares this, he then moves into a lament over the spiritual condition of Jerusalem. Jesus longed to show great compassion and mercy to them, like a brooding hen protecting her young, yet they were unwilling! Throughout his life and ministry, he has been rejected by his own nation. And he knows the hearts of men. He knew that he would be the Suffering Servant, the rejected Savior and King that Isaiah had foretold hundreds of years earlier.

As we read in verse 35, those who reject him will pay a great price for it. The Lord is patient, but his patience will not last forever. We heard about this last week with the warning about the narrow door and waiting too long to believe in Christ. Now we hear from Jesus’ own mouth a judgment upon the people of Israel – “Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”

Jesus pronounces judgment upon the nation. Their house will be desolate, under judgment, far from God. The phrase “is forsaken” functions as a divine passive, meaning that God is vacating Jerusalem, withdrawing his presence. They will remain under this sentence until the day when they are willing to acknowledge Jesus in worship and faith. When will that be?

My understanding of God’s grand redemption plan is that this will take place at a future point when God convicts the Jewish people of their need for Christ. This quote of blessing the one who comes in the name of the Lord is from Psalm 118:26, which is spoken in a positive rather than forced manner. So, it doesn’t seem to fit that this is speaking of their submission at judgment day. Instead, this seems to fit into what Paul speaks about in his letter to the Romans, especially chapters 9-11. There will be a future ingrafting of many Jews into the people of God. To add to this, Jesus also speaks about this stage of redemptive history being “the time of the Gentiles” in Luke 21:24. All of this to say, Jesus is faithful to fulfill his mission to rescue and redeem both Jews and Gentiles into the one people of God, and nothing will stop him! You can and ought to have great faith in Jesus fulfilling his mission! He fulfilled it on earth through his death, burial, and resurrection, and he will come again to finish what he started on the end of time.

Now the immediate context is a word of warning and judgment. And what follows is a series of confrontational interactions with the religious leaders. Let’s turn our attention to this next section which runs from 14:1-24. We’ll start by reading 1-14.

The scene has shifted to a Sabbath day where Jesus is once again dining with the Pharisees. This is the last time he will do so, and as we just heard, he is again faithful to confront and instruct them through multiple interactions during this dinner party. Which leads to our second lesson…

Jesus is faithful to confront and instruct

It begins in verses 1-6, where we see Jesus confront their self-righteousness in failing to show compassion on the Sabbath. As Luke writes it, it seems that the Pharisees had intentionally set up a scenario to test Jesus. We are told they were watching him carefully. And that they had invited a man with dropsy (edema – swelling of the body due to excess fluids). Now notice in verse 3 that Jesus was responding to the lawyers and Pharisees, yet we have no record of them saying anything to him. It seems he is once again responding to the internal thoughts of their hearts. And he poses a question that gets at an issue we’ve heard before – what is lawful on the Sabbath? Is healing lawful or not?

How do they respond? With silence! They are unwilling to look bad by denying compassion and mercy on the Sabbath, but they are also unwilling to give approval to what they know Jesus is about to do.

What does Jesus do? He demonstrates what is lawful/right. He heals the man. He shows mercy and compassion on the Sabbath. And then poses another question to them about whether they would help their son or ox if it needed them on the Sabbath. He knows the answer – of course they would. But, once again, they respond with silence. The way Luke writes it is, “They could not reply to these things.” They were stuck because of their hypocrisy! Their position was a shameful one that had been exposed.

Rather than holding to a posture of self-righteous legalism that leads to a lack of mercy and compassion, God’s kingdom people are to be eager to show compassion and mercy. Jesus models moving towards those who are in need, not away from them. This is true worship, including on the Sabbath. Jesus continues to challenge the teaching of these religious leaders and reveal the true priorities of God’s kingdom. It is much different than the meticulous rule-keeping that they had made it out to be.

I’d like to ask you to evaluate your own life for a moment. Are there ways that you justify a lack of compassion for those in need? (repeat)

I understand that we are not Jesus and we do not have the power to heal those with medical conditions. However, if God is calling his kingdom people to be kind and compassionate rather than legalistic rule-keepers, then how might that apply in our day? I think it could apply when we experience an unwillingness to help those who are “different” than us. Those from a different religion that we don’t agree with. Those who hold a different political view than us. Those who are stuck in sin and don’t seem to want to change. When you encounter such people, what is your response? Do you think about Christ moving towards you when you were in need? Do you move towards them in compassion – seeking to meet their physical and spiritual needs? Or do you turn from them and perhaps think poorly of them?

After silencing the leaders in this way, Jesus proceeds to tell a parable to the rest of the dinner guests. He is moved to speak after watching so many of them arrive and choose the seats of greatest honor for themselves. In verses 7-11, Jesus instructs them in a way that calls out their pride and reveals that humility is to be preferred over self-exaltation. Now, remember, these confrontations and instruction are coming at a time when Jesus is revealing kingdom priorities. This is about more than instruction on how to conduct yourself at a dinner party on earth, but about the kind of character you cultivate and how to prepare yourself for the banquet of the King of Kings.

In this section, Jesus warns them that if they operate by pride and presume to be worthy of the most important seats, they are in danger of being humiliated when the host asks them to move for a more important guest. However, one who has a humble heart, taking the lowest place in the room, puts himself in a position to be honored by the host. He connects this to a principle of the kingdom of God in verse 11 – “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” This is how God’s kingdom works. It is foolish to pursue self-exaltation, when that will really end in humiliation. Far better to operate out of humility – having a right view of self in light of a right view of God – and allow God to bless you through exaltation. Humility exalts God and others, not self! Jesus is highlighting an important characteristic of his kingdom people – HUMILITY not PRIDE.

He drives this home further in verses 12-14 when he addresses the host of the party, telling him not to invite his friends or family or the rich. Why? Because the focus in God’s kingdom is not some sort of tit-for-tat mutual benefit society. No! Jesus tells the host to invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind – the outcasts and downtrodden of society – because in so doing there is an eternal blessing! They cannot repay you in this life, but God will bless you in the resurrection. A person who lives this way, not focused on cultivating a comfortable, easy life where they pass their days hanging out with their closest companions or the upper class of society, but rather are intentional to use their wealth to bless others is operating from a humble heart. They will receive God’s eternal blessing when they enter his kingdom.

Think about how counter-cultural this is in our day. It would have been in theirs too. Isn’t it sad that we find this instruction so offensive? Who here is planning to host a dinner party with the people in these categories? I’m willing to bet the answer is – very few of us. This is sobering teaching. It confronts us in our complacency. Throughout the ages, people have been far too concerned with social status and desiring to interact with people from similar groups or those who will increase their status. This is worldly wisdom – using one another for personal gain or comfort.

Jesus reveals that, in God’s kingdom, there is no consideration of social status and there ought to be a flow of resources from those who have more to those who have less. Because that is what Jesus has done for us! While we were yet sinners, he saved us. He poured out on us the riches of his mercy and grace.

So, we ought to be compassionate and move towards those in need. They are our fellow image-bearer of God! To me, this seems to be such an excellent example of Jesus’ earlier teaching:

Wouldn’t you rather be generous with what you have been given in this life and enjoy the blessings of God in his eternal kingdom? What is it that keeps you from interacting with those who can offer you nothing in return? Perhaps you have a neighbor or co-worker or friend (or fellow church-goer) who would be deeply blessed by your compassion and generosity. What would it look like this week for you to come alongside them in a meaningful way? Using the resources God has entrusted to you to bless them and expect nothing in return?

This is also an appropriate time for me to mention that we have many ministry partners in the Des Moines metro that provide opportunities to live this out. These may not result in a meal in your home, but they will have you meeting tangible needs in people’s lives.

(Ministry Partner webpage x2 – 10s auto-timers – ends by going back to main points!)

Agape Resource Center

Garden Gate Ranch

Grimes Storehouse

Wildwood Hills Ranch

Freedom for Youth

Ruth Harbor

Joppa

Together for Good

GVSS

Single Parent Provision

Blessing Bags

Christmas Dinner

*pause*

Are you thankful for Jesus’ confrontation and instruction? He is a faithful Savior! He will not leave us alone in our pride but invites us to recognize it and turn to him in humility.

Unfortunately, the guests at this dinner party didn’t quite get the memo. Listen to what happens next:

Apparently, after hearing Jesus mention the resurrection of the just, one dinner guest blurted out in excited anticipation about eating bread in the kingdom of God. This man appears to presume that they will be present for this blessed celebration in God’s kingdom. So, Jesus responds with another parable to help them grasp the dire situation they are in.

In this parable, a man who was giving a great banquet sent out invitations in advance. When the time came for the feast, he sent his servant to follow-up with those invited. The time had come, the feast was ready, and they could enjoy it with him! Yet, shockingly, they all began to make excuses! One prioritizes inspecting a field he purchased over attending. Another prioritizes inspecting 5 yoke of oxen, which indicates he was a wealthy landowner. Both ask to be excused. The third says, “I’ve just married, I can’t come.” He doesn’t even ask to be excused. He just says he’s got other priorities. Here’s the problem, none of these should have precluded them from attending the feast! The inspections could have taken place at other times; these men had already purchased the field/oxen. There was no rush to see them now! They’re already yours! And for the man recently married, that did not mean he could not attend a banquet for an evening. His time away from his wife would have been minimal!

Please understand these are not valid excuses! They expose men who are prioritizing other things in life, thus they refuse to come to the banquet. When you step back and consider the larger context and message behind the parable, these men are prioritizing worldly pursuits over God’s kingdom. Jesus is warning of the dangers of having the wrong priorities to the people at this dinner party.

They should not assume they will be present to eat bread in the kingdom of God for they have refused the invitations that God has presented through the prophets and, most recently, through Jesus! As we heard in the progression of the parable, their refusal to come invited the master’s wrath, culminating in the declaration in verse 24 that “none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.”

It is folly to presume that you will be in the kingdom of God if you have rejected God’s messengers, especially His Son! No amount of religious activity and Jesus-adjacency will get you through the narrow door and into the kingdom of God! It is by faith alone in Christ alone.

Now, does this mean that none will be at the kingdom banquet? Will it be cancelled since those originally invited refused to come? By no means! As we heard in Jesus’ teaching…

God’s kingdom banquet will happen, and the participants will surprise you

When the master heard the rejections from the original invitations, he immediately sent his servant out to the streets and lanes of the city to bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame. The very people Jesus had spoken about earlier to the host of his dinner party. God models seeking out the least of these to invite them to his kingdom banquet!

Yet, even after the servant fulfills his master’s request, we hear that there is still more room! God’s kingdom banquet is expansive, and God desires his house to be filled. He sends the servant back out again to urgently call (compel) people from the highways and hedges to join the feast. In the imagery of this parable, such people would have been shocked and suspicious that a person of such wealthy standing would want them at his banquet in his home.

What a beautiful picture of the Gospel message! The message of salvation and the invitation to delight in the banquet of the kingdom of God is extended to weak and weary sinners like you and me. Men and women who had no right to be a part of God’s people or invited to his banquet/kingdom. Rebels against a HOLY God. Yet he calls and urgently implores us to come and partake through faith in Christ!

Our appropriate response is to heed this invitation to Jesus’ wedding feast before it is too late. Come through the narrow door before it is closed! Believe in Christ, turn from your sin, and be saved!

Do not repeat the folly of the religious leaders of Jesus’ day by rejecting this invitation. Heed the warning that there are many distractions in this life from entering the kingdom of God. These remind us of the parable of the soils that we heard about earlier in Luke. Many cares and concerns of this life can prevent us from prioritizing God and his kingdom.

What are the areas of your life that tend to crowd out your pursuit of God and his kingdom? It’s not wrong to have possessions or obligations to family in this life, but do not let anything keep you from your first priority and love – your God. When you prioritize pursuing Him, then these other commitments will be put into their proper place, and you will learn to handle them in a godly manner. Make sure you are seated at the banquet by cultivating a life of humble faith and repentance!

Then I would also invite you to consider who you can invite to join you at God’s kingdom banquet! He has made it clear that he intends for his house to be full. Who has God put in your sphere of influence to evangelize and minister to? Don’t be afraid to urgently implore them to evaluate the claims of Christ and come into God’s kingdom. (5-3-1 card)

In fact, next week’s sermon is going to be on the cost of following Christ and the joy in heaven over one sinner who repents. What a great opportunity to invite someone to come and hear these marvelous truths! Not to mention that in November we will be entering into what we affectionately know as Stewardship Month. This is a time of year where we consider all that God has entrusted to us and seek to be faithful stewards/managers of it. This year our sermon series is called What Rules You? and it is focused on stewarding your heart. Over the course of November, we are going to develop a theology of our inner-man/inner-woman to better understand why we do what we do. Each Sunday we’ll approach this from a different common ruling desire or attitude of the heart: anxiety, despair, folly, and anger. I hope you’ll prioritize being present for these and invite a friend to come and learn too! God’s Word has real and practical answers for these life-dominating heart issues. We are also planning our annual Stewardship Celebration for Sunday, 11/22 at 5pm. If you’ve never been before, you don’t want to miss out. It’s an opportunity for the whole church family to come together for a nice catered meal, fellowship, and then worship and testimonies together. Mark it down on your calendars and plan to be there!

I’m looking forward to how God continues to use His Word to call His people to Himself. And to refine us in the process to be holy as He is holy! What a privilege and joy it is to pursue Him alongside you.

Let’s pray.

Jesus alone straightens what is bent

Jesus alone makes much of what seems small

Jesus alone saves those who enter the narrow door

Manuscript:

Good morning church family! My name is Jack Flaherty and I serve as one of the pastors here at Harvest. It is a joy to open up God’s Word together this morning. For our 4th-5th graders you are dismissed to class. The rest of us can open up our Bibles to Luke 13. If you need a Bible, the ushers would love to get you one. On Wednesday nights we ask all of our students to have a bible with them and open. We don’t start reading till everyone has one! I wont make you do that, but that’s how important we think the Word of God is. IGet your eyes on it, it has the power to change you.

Speaking of students, it truly is a privilege to serve the students of this church and in our community. Excited for events coming up the next two Saturdays. But one of the best things is that student ministry is full of surprises! Some examples. Last Winterfest it was the junior high girls not high school guys who are the most snacks of anyone. Summer camp student was crying because she didn’t get to eat. When asked why she explained she can’t because she has a small canker sore is on her favorite side of her mouth to chew on.  This week a student came over after playing football looking like he was dripping sweat and in distress. Said he couldn’t see and proceed to explain it was bug spray all over his face. Some serious/sweet examples. Our first summer camp where 6th grader led a team building exercise with high school students. A hostile middle schooler who seemed a million miles away is now faithfully following Jesus. A high school girl who was the shyest elementary and middle schooler who became one of the best welcomers of new students into the church and ministry. I could share a million more stories. In this context of student ministry you learn to expect the unexpected.

Well in a similar way our text this morning is full of surprises. As Jesus teaches and demonstrates the power of kingdom of God, we realize this too is a context where we should expect the unexpected. Our sermon title today is Kingdom Contrasts because what we hear and see in the ministry of Jesus shows clear contrasts between the world and the kingdom of God. Not only contrasts, but that the kingdom of God is bursting in on the kingdom of the world and reverses our expectations and experiences. Recognizing the great reversals of God’s rule and reign is what Jesus presents to his disciples and to us. Look for the opposites, reversals, contrast. When Bible reading is difficult, this is a method which helps the Bible make sense and come alive! SO many here! Maybe keep track of them! But all will fall under one of three headings. We find the first as we read Luke 13:10-17. The first great reversal of God’s rule and reign to recognize is that…

Jesus alone straightens what is bent 

Luke gives less geographic context but points us to the theological and narrative happenings. In v10 Luke tells us Jesus is in a synagogue on the Sabbath. This has been an issue in this gospel already and will come up again next chapter. Happens to be a woman there who has disabling spirit and Jesus calls her over. He starts the conflict! He heals her by the power of his Words, then lovingly and with care lays hands on her. Immediately straightens up AND immediately she glorifies God! Makes difference of kingdoms clear and show his rule and reign!

She wasn’t seeking just faithful at synagogue. And she does nothing but walk to Jesus when called and God does the work to free her! Praises show she knows who did the work! But the ruler did not and did not like it. His job is to govern what happens at synagogue and he probably let Jesus talk. But now Jesus crossed a line. Avoids direct attack as v14 tells us “he said to the people.” But message clear that he thinks Jesus broke Sabbath. Tells people, go away come again another day. 

He misses at best of avoids at worst the divine work. But Jesus makes it clear. Instead of avoid in v15-16 answers him directly. Remember from Luke 6 he is Lord of the Sabbath! This ruler says it’s fine to free animals to drink but not ok to let a woman, daughter of Abe, who is dealing with 18 years of Satan oppression to experience freedom? Hypocrite! This woman sickness accredited to Satan but not said to be possessed or exorcism. Not that all disablements are Satanic but hers was. Might be something with number eighteen and Greek letters which abbreviate Jesus also standing for eight like his power flips the power of Satan! Regardless, the responses of Jesus in  lifts the lifts this up from crossfire of legal debates and puts it in messianic realm. Divine realm. This is picking a fight with God.

Jesus rhetorically fights back to defend his rule on display. His rhetorical question “ought not” this woman be loosed here in v16 directly rebuts the rulers word in v14 “ought” to be working six and resting one. He wanted to make sure they didn’t miss his disagreement.  When our oldest was about 2 years old she really enjoyed loud screams in the car for no reason. One day she had let a few out and I said “please you need to stop. Your screaming is not necessary.” Quiet for a few minutes. Then must’ve seen something roll by that warranted it in her mind and blurts out another yell. A brief pause and a calm little voice says “that was necessary.” Jesus says this conflict was necessary to demonstrate his kingdom rule and reign.

What the ruler speaks against is actually the original context of the Sabbath! Ruler thinks he is expositing the law meant to show love of God and others but instead show no concern for either. Consider the purpose of the Sabbath! Deuteronomy 5:12-15 “ ‘Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you.  Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter or your male servant or your female servant, or your ox or your donkey or any of your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates, that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you. You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.”

It was meant for rest from work and remembrance of deliverance! Ruler missed the point of the Sabbath and missed what the Sabbath was pointing too! That is to the Lord of the Sabbath, Jesus, and what he offers all who rest in him. We’ve already heard that back in ch 4 when Jesus reads from Isaiah 61 in the synagogue. Let’s review. Luke 4:16-21 “And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Sabbath is reminder of release from captivity. Jesus’ loosing is a sign of a new Sabbath accomplished by new Exodus! meant to bless people and mark Mosaic covenant. Jesus never broke God’s Law, He kept it! He did not violate it, He fulfilled it!!

Kingdom of God at hand. But this ruler is indignant as God’s power undermined his power. He tried to talk to the crowd and by v17 everyone’s attention captured. ALL adversaries shamed and ALL people rejoiced and ALL glorious things Jesus did! This restoring the bowed down ones is talked about in Ps 19:9; 144:14; 145:8 as something which only God does and brings God glory! Kingdom comes with rule and reign and will provoke opposition and praise.

The question for us is, do we recognize that Jesus is the one to straighten the bent things in our lives? First, he straightens the physical back of this broken woman. Jesus is one who can provide physical healing for us! And even when he does not, he provides the context for care in the local church! Care and healing can be shown by refusing to ostracize those who are ill, empathize with anguish, surround with love and respect. Even Jesus calling her a daughter of Abe shows unique ID. Term of honor! People first not disability first language we can learn from. Lets care in words and actions as Jesus does! 

Second, he straightens what Satan broke. Woman’s weakness is not within but without. Don’t think physical struggle is sign of spiritual weakness in fact it’s the often opposite! In fact in this honor shame Roman world Jesus shows weak woman as honor and shames the leaders of power! Not petty vengeance but showing who is really honored, those who follow Jesus! Don’t let your weakness be an impediment for trusting God or for taking God to others. Too young, too old, hindered in some way. You can still trust and praise God 

Third, he straightens what Pharisees twisted. Jesus showed compassion to the broken woman, while the ruler was concerned about broken rules. What does this contrast reveal about the difference between Jesus’ heart and a self-righteous heart? Guard against becoming more concerned with being right than loving people! Also, if you’ve been taught wrong, manipulated, mistreated, you are not alone. And yet, Jesus is even today, hear from his mouth! 

This is what the kingdom of God looks like: an unnamed woman who has been bent over for eighteen years standing upright in unnamed synagogue proving Jesus’ power over enemy. What feels bent in your life? Nothing is too broken for God to straighten out! And God might just use the hardest thing you’re stuck in to bring himself glory. Jesus is coming to make it all new! Jesus is in direct engagement in cosmic conflict with the purpose of kingdom coming through. He will ultimately straighten out all the sin and Satan and suffering has bent!  Wherever the kingdom comes it breaks the power and rule of Satan. Jesus shows however this is not always happening the way we expect it. We see that continue in our next section.

Read Luke 13:18-21. The second reversal of God’s rule and reign to recognize is that…

Jesus alone makes much of what seems small 

We see the word “therefore” in v18 which means Luke is highlighting how Jesus’ teaching is intentionally connected to what came right before. THEREFORE connects us back to all rejoicing at all glorious things.! This teaching is explaining Jesus’ kingdom coming in power to rule and reign over Satan and the kingdom of the world. Jesus has the authority to show what God is like!

So what is that like?! Jesus gives us two pictures to explain the kingdom. One of a man with a seed and the other of woman with bread. Mustard seed.  Super tiny not significant.  But this things grows. It can be a plant of decent size somewhere from 10-20 feet tall. Mustard Plant. But this is funny as mustard plant is actually hollow and is not a suitable nesting place. Also ALL the birds is exaggeration. Dramatic contrasts! God’s reign is improbably inglorious and humble yet enormously successful

Same thing with this next picture of the kingdom. Leaven loaf. Many of us know someone who got this started in their kitchen! We got a good starter in our fridge! That’s the leaven. It doesn’t take much to put into a loaf and spread through. But it’s a surprising pic in many ways. Such a huge volume for one. That’s roughly 60lbs of dough. Wow! But also an inversion of common images of sacred and profane! From perspective of pharisees Jesus view of God’s kingdom ignores purity concerns, violates, sabbath, and accepts sinners. Corrupting for their world view indeed! BUT its making great God’s true world view. Disorienting BUT focuses on end goal.  old is new with continuity. Jesus changing Judaism to something new.

He is helping explain why the kingdom contrasts maybe aren’t fully what we expect them to be yet. Not divine cedar as prophet Ezekiel anticipates but lowly mustard seed. Nonetheless aiding all. Not ruling conquer yet but silently and powerfully interrupts the norm. The kingdom of God breaks in and doesn’t always look impressive. But already present and staring to spread. It looks like a little bent woman, a tiny seed, little leaven. Small and hidden BUT will come in apocalyptic power! This kingdom is both happening in individual lives but also in lives together. This is a team thing! It is spreading and growing and surprisingly making an impact as God works through individuals apart but also even more so together.

This is what the kingdom of God looks like: something that begins like a mustard seed and becomes remarkably large. That is a scoop of leaven that leavens a massive loaf. So what does this mean for us? We can have a confidence that even if we don’t see things now God is on the move! Yes hidden and imperceptible but God is doing something. Church this should pump us up! Watched Remember the Titans this weekend and it’s a slow process of team coming together but then has huge impac ton them and their community and now millions who watch. We join the exciting like Gary Bertier fist pumping! Be excited! Who knows when that invite to church turns up years later. Who knows when those prayers prayed bring conviction & repentance. Who knows how the daily discipline of prayer and Bible reading will produce the exact help you need in time. Or on corporate level who knows when a SG might make a big impact. Or a small church have a large influence. Our church started from a a few hearts stirred, a Craigslist’s add, some living room prayer, and a pastor planning on going elsewhere hearing from the Lord while praying in a closet.

Do we think simple faith and obedience too small that God can’t move in or work through in big ways?  When you don’t see big things happening know God is at work. Humble beginnings and seemingly small growth yet there are major things happening! Yes God can bring breakthrough BUT also God works over ordinary daily pursuit of him. This is evident in counseling, in discipleship, in parenting, in student ministry, in our church life. God is not slow but patient not only wishing for all to repent but to build. Do you wish you saw something overcome NOW? Transformation now? Trust the seed the leaven is working also, in both God is the one expanding and raising up. God can work with something that seems small and accomplish much. 

If you’re an outsider, the Kingdom is unstoppable. Seems small and insignificant. But if you’re not recognizing how much of a deal this seemingly small thing is, you’re in for a rude awakening. This is not a small piece to add onto your life, this is the whole thing. Like the ruler who wants the kingdom his way, we can’t try to control or keep it to the side. It will become a tree for birds of the heavens. It will leaven ALL the loaf. Will you recognize that Jesus is going to take what seems small now and make much of it? Will you take the little stirrings of faith you feel now and trust the Spirit to fan them to flame? Or ignore and miss out? Let this last section persuade you.

Read Luke 13:22-30 The third great reversal of God’s rule and reign to recognize is that…

Jesus alone saves those who enter the narrow door

In v22 is a reminder we are still heading to Jerusalem as we have been since 9:51. Reign of the kingdom is not derailed by human hostility or religious hypocrisy! Jesus is multitasking. He is fighting false teachers, he is equipping disciples, and he is heading to the cross. Evidently the judgement and division talk stir up question and in v23 man asks an important question. Probably well-meaning and “Lord” shows he thinks Jesus has some authority to speak. Jesus answer is less worried about numbers but more worried that the immediate audience would respond personally. It’s implied in the verb in v24 but “you” is reiterated much in v24-30. This is Jesus speaking to this man and those around him. But as God’s Word still speaks it’s for you and me today too!  

Jesus says strive to enter the narrow door.  The word for strive has the connotation and same root as “agonize”! Why? Well this does not mean we work our way to be saved. Jesus already clearly said this even just at the begging of the chapter, REPENT. The woman healed was by God’s word and hand alone. The seed and loaf grew by kingdom work, not ours. We don’t have power to enter the door like woman was unable to stand up. It is an imperative but seems to be more emphasis on struggle than enter. God brings us through, but we still struggle. 

We see this in places like Phil 2:12-13 which says work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. Or 1 Cor 9:25-27 says we press on in the race to win the prize. Even this is the concept of Hebrews 4 of striving to enter the rest of God. As it quotes from Psalm 95 the message is the same. there is a personal urgency! So salvation doesn’t come from our efforts. Yet just because its not produced doesn’t mean we don’t participate. Salvation is for those who strive to enter! 

As I wrestled with this, I can’t help but think of passages like Jesus tell us to take up cross daily or Paul talking about being crucified with Christ. It seems the effort is to stop making it your own effort. Die to self to squeeze through that narrow door! Its agonizing to repent! Its hard to die to pride and admit sin! It takes effort to believe--Lord help our unbelief! It takes effort to stay committed to truth in the face of opposition and persecution. Its not easy to love God more than other people so that love for God makes love for others be like “hate.” Its agonizing to willingly welcome division. It’s not easy to say goodbye to possessions or see ya later finances that I wanted for my purposes but surrender to God. 

This striving in participation with God comes from a right recognition of his kingdom bursting onto the scene. Not everyone will recognize this nor make that the motivation for their efforts. Not because it’s not clear, but they miss out on the kingdom. And Jesus warns of this in two pictures. 

First in v24 is narrow door. Only right response to kingdom is repent and believe in Jesus. He is the way truth and life no one comes to father except through him! Contrasting hypocritical talk of the day of rule following getting you in. And contrasts our day that religious pluralism. We want to be generous and that’s unloving but it’s from Jesus mouth that entry is narrow! This isn’t church tradition made up. This theme is echoed throughout the Bible! Narrow means its not something you accidentally or casually get through. Agonizing! And after Christ alone! 

Second picture in v25-27 is a door that will shut. Wanting is not enough. Closeness not enough BUT it takes repenting and believing in the narrow way of Jesus. See the parallelism.

v25a master stands and shuts door THEN you stand and knock at door

v25b you say ___ and he answers I don’t know where you’re from

v26 you say ___ and he answers I don’t know where you’re from

v27 DEPART all workers or evil

Again shocking to those who thought religious motions of closeness will get you there. There is no such things as saving faith that is Jesus adjacent. Those who went to church, who had religious parents, who had children dedicated, and prayed at meals. Then in v28-30 we see another contrast of feasting at the table vs in a place of weeping and gnashing teeth. They loved the law but missed what patriarchs and prophets saw! Those expected are shut out and those marginalized are the cause for celebration! The self-righteous will murmur and weep and gnash. These is combo of sorrow and rage. Not remorseful for being shut out of the kingdom as they wish to enter on own terms. They have hardened hearts. 

Others “recline at table” in v29 this connects back to 12:37. The  Isaiah 25 image of the great feast! Patriarchs and prophets of course make the guest list. but also crowd from all over the world! others outside weeping. Joy for many despair for others. Those near are cast far and those far are drawn near. This preps for whimsical images of banquets with guests of honors coming from everywhere, highways and alleys (ch 14), and  far countries (ch 15) Jesus in fight with cosmic power and is putting that on display. Shows mercy of God’s coming reign. foretaste!

Is that where you want to be? Again emphasis on “you.” Don’t wait because there is a day the door will be shut. This is not fear tactics but facts. Again this is Jesus himself speaking. Heaven and Hell aren’t just scare tactics or treats to dangle for motivation. They are real places where you will really end up after your life on this earth ends. Do we believe this? Do we think on this? Don’t go through life as if Hell is something OTHERS gotta worry about. We make ourselves the hero of the story Jesus flips that script. He is the hero saving you in distress! If your stirred lets talk! Don’t wait! Time is not infinite. We know that as we watch it wind down and bodies of us and others grow old. So today is the day of salvation! 

If you’re a Christian two things for us. First, this should shake those comfortable in their sin awake! And second it should assure those comfortable in their salvation! That doesn’t mean we need to sit doubting and doubting and wrestling. If you’re trusting actively in Christ alone, he has aleady RSVP’d your seat at the banquet and let that motivate you! And as a part of the kingdom with others, we get to do both these things in community. Call out sin where needed and assure the sensitive conscience where needed. Point one another to Jesus alone! Notice that repetition in each point today is intentional. We cannot straight ourselves out but something’s think we can. We cannot make much of anything lasting in this world. Studying Ecclesiastes with students is reminding me of that. We need to know God for real and let him make broken things whole and tiny seeds into trees. And we need to know him forreal. That means we need be REAL clear on the narrow door which we enter to arrive at the meal. you know him!

Did you count all the contrasts and reversals? Animals bound in stall loosed to drink vs daughter of Abe bound by Satan loosed to praise. Bent made straight and oppressed set free. Lowly woman exalted/honored and mighty rulers shamed/humbled. Small made great and the imperceivable made evident. Those entering in vs those standing near. Outsiders brought near while insiders cast off. Partying now are weeping and weeping now will feast. Last first and first last. And more. Expectations reversed! The Bible is full of reversals! Jesus did it all! Is this true of you? 

This is what the kingdom of God looks like: people we expect to be first finding themselves last, and people we expect to be last finding themselves first. The kingdom brings a King who straightens, grows, saves. God straightens what Satan has bent. God makes much of what seems small. And God saves those who enter through the door. So don't stand near the door. Don't presume you'll enter later. Enter now. The biggest reality is that this kingdom paints the bigger biblical theological picture of the grand redemptive narrative. Of beauty of Eden which was wrecked by sin being reversed by the Second Adam. Jesus Christ is the one to rule and reign and he will bring a kingdom that crushes that of the serpent. In the end we will see judgment poured out on all who reject his rule and reign and blessing poured out on all who enter in through Christ. See these contrast and respond now with faith in Jesus Christ for all he has done and is doing for his kingdom.

One of the pictures we get to commemorate this is Lord’s Supper. The bread reminds us of the broken body which makes us whole. The cup reminds us of the righteous blood spilled so the unrighteous might be made clean. We celebrate Jesus reversal of the curse through the cross. We do this together with others who are a part of the kingdom! And we look forward to the day we feast with whim!

Two biblical warnings. First, this is a uniquely Christian act. All believers in Jesus Christ are welcome but if you have not placed your faith in Christ then we ask you take time now to respond or let the elements pass by. Second,  Jesus died to deal with sin between him and others and even believers need to examine if we have unrepentant sin. This doesn’t mean worry about if you forgot something BUT ask “Am I you actively trusting God, presenting my life as a living sacrificial and being transformed?” This means dealing with it before God and with others if sin involves another person. Deal with it or make a plan to deal with it. As I invite the ushers forward and worship team up and the elements are passed, I invite you to take some time to reflect and deal between you and the Lord (and others if needed). After all are served I will come up, pray, and then partake together.

In 1 Cor 11:23-34, Paul relays to us what he received from the Lord, recalling that night Jesus was betrayed. Jesus took the bread, gave thanks, and breaking it said “this is my body, which is for you. Eat this in remembrance of me.” Let’s eat together. In the same way he took the cup saying “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. As often as you drink it, do this in remembrance of me.” Let’s drink together. Hallelujah! Thank you, Jesus! Let’s stand together and sing to our humbly and loving God.

Be ready

Be repentant

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Good morning church family! My name is Jack Flaherty and I serve as one of the pastors here at Harvest. Gald everyone made it with new service times. Good news is, if you’re feeling a bit tired, we are hearing from God together! Earlier this week I attended a conference which reminded us over and over again it is the Word that does the work. If we believe the Bible inspired and breathed out by God then we every time we open the Bible we realize it is God speaking to us. What a blessing to hear from the Lord every time we open this book! God has something to say to us from his living, active, powerful, authoritative, clear, and life-giving Word!

Can’t wait to dive in! Before we do, 4th and 5th graders you’re dismissed for class. Rest of us, today we will be continuing our study of Luke’s gospel account starting in Luke 12:35. Go ahead and open up you Bibles and if you need a copy of God’s Word ushers will bring them to you.

Title today is Preparation for the Parousia. A couple weeks ago we talked about preparation for perseverance. They are prepared to handle persecution, to use possessions well, and now Jesus wanted disciples to be read to endure in carrying out their service to him. Endure till when? Well until his return! Parousia is the Greek word for this. Parousia -- The state of being present at a place; arrival, coming, advent; technical term for the future return of Jesus Christ in glory at the end of time. That is the idea which Jesus speaks of in this text.

Remember where we are in Luke’s gospel. In Luke 9-19 Jesus is heading toward the cross. This journey is marked by Jesus facing persecution and teaching in lots of parables in part to weed out false disciples and to prepare his true disciples for ministry after his death, resurrection and ascension. What we see today is just that, a warning to those who aren’t following in faith and an encouragement for those who are following in faith, about what is to come. And as a result of what is to come, that is the future return or arrival of Jesus, it should change how disciples of Jesus, including us, should live now. Living today in light of Jesus’ return is message Jesus is conveying. He is preparing the world to know of his future return and in light of that help us know how to live now. Though this is a large text, yet two very key actions emerge. We find the first in the remainder of ch 12. READ Luke 12:35-59.

The first way to live today in light of Jesus’ return is to…

Be ready

In v35-40 Jesus is still focused on the disciples which he has been since v22. Though there is much he says it is all centered around his sentence in v40 “You must be ready for the Son of Man.” In fact, the opposite is warned against in v47 “that servant who knew the master’s will and did not get ready” is in trouble. Surrounding these statements it seems that Jesus gives at least four descriptions of what that readiness for his return looks like along with several motivations for why they ought to be ready.

The first is to be ready by watching for His return. He tells them in v35 to get dressed for action. Literally in the Greek this is gird your loins! Likely a reference to Ex 12 where God told the people through Moses to tuck in their tunics, eat the Passover, and be ready for the road trip to the Promised Land. Instead of tripping on clothes they tuck into belt to move quickly. Also in v35 Jesus tells disciples keep lamp burning. Like my mom whenever I was on my way home, lamp on waiting for me to walk in the door. Like what ch 11 described and what is depicted here in v36--a servant waiting so that “at once they may open the door.” Why? At least part of this motivation v37 says is the blessing that comes from the master. The ones who he finds ready he will bless. The mater will put on the apron and serve the servant! They been working and watching and now they take a load off and relax and get served. Incredible!

And this is ready at any time. Debates about if this is the Roman or the Greek/Hebrew time system described in v38 but either way we are talking middle of the night. Time when most of us are pretty sleepy. The thief illustration v39 reinforces the same idea of a time we’d be surprised. That’s not how we wait for the turn of the master. We aren’t guessing but be always watching! We stay dressed and ready to go!

I am convicted I don’t think much about the return of Jesus let alone have this matter of alertness. I know that its true he can return at any time, and at an hour we do not expect. A few years ago I was able to preach on the return of Christ and was extremely humbled to see how much we are supposed to be watching based upon the volume of ink given to this subject in the Bible

There are 1500 OT passages that refer to the second coming of Christ (17 of 39 books)

There are 330 NT passages that directly speak to the second coming (23 of 27 books)

That’s 7 out of every 10 chapters and one out of every 25 NT verses

For every one mention of the birth of Jesus there are eight Parousia references.

Be thinking on the return of Jesus. Whether you believe it or not, he will be returning. It’s a more well-established fact than the reality he came the first time. Don’t let the Parousia surprise you. Instead let it fill your mind. New book for my kids The Awesome Super Fantastic Forever Party. We get new hearts that only seek good and true and beautiful. We get new bodies that never hurt or ache or ail. We get new creation with our decay and can explore forever. We get perfect relationships with others. Best of all, we get Jesus. It’ll be like nothing we can imagine! Both Paul and Peter write about longing for and loving Christ’s return.  John tells us in Revelation prays 3x “Come, Lord Jesus!” Is that your disposition? Dwell on the beauty of what that means as a believer to see your Savior. To enter into the joy of your master. To be served and recline at table. Disciples keep you awake and excited for what is to come.

Second, be ready by working faithfully until He returns. In v41 Peter asks if these words are for disciples or everyone. Maybe Peter wants to make sure the disciples get the preferential treatment, maybe he wants to know if they need to pass this along. We don’t fully know. But Jesus doesn’t directly answer and the way he talks seems to indicate this is for all. IN v42-48 goes into a parable of two managers/stewards who are set over the masters household. One is said to be doing what they were supposed to and gets blessed! The other serves himself and is a poor steward and gets a beating! So again, why be ready? Because he will bless stewards who work faithfully and beat those who are unfaithful or more literally faithless. He wasn’t expectant and is cut into pieces. Maybe literal, most likely to show steward had divided interests. Regardless beating is not something we want!

Maybe that seems harsh, but this isn’t just a little mix up. This is a just action of punishment for forsaking the responsibility given. This servant totally blows it off. indulges. God is not unfair. Now v48 goes on to say talk about the servant who did wrong but did not know. Thing is its not that he didn’t know the master, he just didn’t know the masters will. All will stand before him, follower of Jesus or not. And passages like Ps 19, Rom 1, Ecc 3 all tell us that Creation out there and our conscience in here tell us we know there is a Creator and a standard setter to whom we are accountable. No conscious human being can get away innocent just from not hearing. Why else be sent to go and tell? wouldn’t it be better to never hear? of course not! Instead we are sent to share the news so all might be saved! We are to be about the master’s work.

This is especially true for those with more knowledge and responsibility. If you are hearing this today, you have accountability to do the work of stewardship the master has called you to! Are you stewarding well the knowledge you have of God and his will? Or are you letting cares of this world slow you down? “I’ll respond to Jesus later. This thing is really important. I know He isn’t coming back right now I won’t have to give and account.” That says something about who you believe God is and who you believe you are. That says something about if you are faithful or faithless. The faithful are ready by working until Christ returns. It’s a good rule of thumb in the moment of temptation to ask yourself “If my Master returned right now, would he be pleased?”

Third, be ready by standing with Him no matter the cost. As Jesus continues to speak in v49-53 he not only wanted the disciples to understand their stewardship to work for Him but also to remind them to be ready to count the cost of standing with Him. Why be ready? Because he will bring division, and this should not surprise us. The fire in v49 is Jesus speaking of wanting to purify the world from sin. How? As v50 says through his baptism which causes great distress. This is the baptism of taking on the wrath of God on the cross for the sins of the faithful. His face is set for this since Luke 9:51. Disciples are spared their beating and receive their blessing because Jesus gave his blessing and Jesus received their beating. This is what it took to make peace with God!

However, this did not bring peace of earth according to v51. Peace comes up several times in Luke’s gospel. It’s what Zechariah sang about after his mouth was opened in Luke 1. It’s what the angles sang in the field to the shepherds at the birth of Jesus. It’s also part of the warning that Simeon gave in Luke 2 that Jesus would bring the rising and fall of many as he reveals their true hearts. And Luke 19 as Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey the crowd cries “Peace in Heaven” foreshadowingly leaving out earth and Jesus response is that he wishes they know what things truly make for peace but they cannot because it is hidden. Jesus brings peace for those who are His, but that reality necessarily divides. We are either with him or against him. Either faithful steward or not. Either waiting expectantly or not. Instead as we have followed his life, his teachings cause a ruckus! An uproar. And those who follow are swept up in it. In fact this is such a big deal it will divide households as some accept Jesus and some reject.

We need to be ready for this and stand with Jesus no matter the cost! It may cost your alertness and attention to other things, it may cost your comfort and laziness, it may cost your work and friendships, it may even be your own family. Some of you have felt this. I mentioned the conference this week. Pastor Afshin Ziafat spoke of his testimony. Iranian descent he was taught English in afterschool program and was give NT. Ten years later he opens up his NT, sees the one who made peace through the cross, and repents and believes. Hides from his parents but they find out and he is asked to choose between Dad or Jesus. He tells his dad if you are making me choose between Heavenly Father and earthly father I choose God. He is kicked out. He goes to his room to gather thoughts and things. Guess where he opens his bible to? right here! Power of the Word. It was a comfort. Is it a comfort to you?

Be ready! Maybe you haven’t had that but be ready. Maybe it’s different divide because you actually see them all the time and the division is noticeable and talked about and difficult. I know this from experiences as do many of you. But Jesus is coming back. These divisions are evidence of his truthfulness here. So stand firm, count the cost, know it’s worth it no matter what!

Lastly, we stay ready by discerning your urgent need. Notice in v54 a shift now specifically to the crowds. And repetition of the word “you.” Shift from his return to crowds ability to see their need before he returns. In v54-56 says these guys can tell the signs of the weather and in v57-59 they are smart about personal affairs and finances but they miss that I am Messiah. Hypocrite here is pretending they saw and did not. Like talking to a toddler OR someone using big words and you just say “yep” even when you got no idea. The rebuke implies choosing to be oblivious. There is an incongruity that they can know weather and personal affairs but not God’s heavenly intervention through Jesus. He was the Messiah, clearly so, and they missed it.

Though specific to that time we can still do that same. We miss what God is doing. IF you know the potential future outcome, will you not settle things before falling into condemnation? Not just good legal advice but real eternal judgment awaits. Maybe you are here today or listening because someone invited or shared. What a coincidence. Do you not know how to interpret the present time! Jesus wants to show there is a need for YOU! You too have common sense with weather and finances and personal affairs. But how about spiritual common sense? If you know what is coming why would you not settle accounts! wouldn’t that make sense?! Make peace before you pay the price.

Disciples, this is how you rep Jesus well. Crowd, this is how you avoid the fire! We stand guilty. While you have time before you roll into court where you will pay the fine forever, settle now. Turn to Jesus now! Thinking you have time is a dangerous game to play with your forever. Can you sit and really think about eternity and tell me it’s not an urgent need!? God can call you into account any time and could be today. Be ready. Jesus is returning. He wants his disciples to not forget so that they can be faithfully watching and working for him, standing with him. He wants all to be ready by knowing their urgent need.

This is the theme that continues as we READ Luke 13:1-9.

The second way to live today in light of Jesus’ return is to…

Be repentant

After speaking to the need of readiness and the urgency of settling before judgement, the crowd now speaks up about an action where it seems judgment may have occurred. As he interacts with these folks there are two warnings for us which emphasize again the urgency of repentance.

First, Don’t ignore your need! Discerning to not ignoring the fact that our need requires action personally. I love how people in the crowd feels comfortable to ask Jesus questions. Even as he is talking judgement and death there is an inviting presence about him. I am personally convicted by this in both a) the need to talk about God with others and b) the how to talk about God with others. But consider what they share with Jesus in v1. This is a horrible event! We don’t have other historical accounts of this specific event, but Pilate was a wicked man and events like this are strewn in historical records. It seems that some men from Galilee were killed either while offering sacrifices or on their way to offer sacrifices.

Perhaps the warning Jesus gives about settling before meeting was well understand that God may come back OR we may die and go to him and judgment might look like horrible things happening. How does Jesus respond? Will he be political savior and get caught in the furry against Pilate? OR will he say Pilate is the tool of God’s judgement like Babylon handing down a sentence on these guilt folks?  As he tends to do, he asks a question. You think they were judged with this because of their sin in v2? Answer in v3 NO! In fact, he gives a second example of a similar tragic circumstances in v4 where 18 people were killed because of falling tower. He speaks of those from Jerusalem to make it demographically diverse. Likely in the wall by pool of Siloam. Again not mentioned. But again he answers no v5.

His responses are surprising for a couple reasons. First, bad guys are getting off and good guys are getting killed HAD to be there were being judged! One is directly Pilate and the other like Pilate Herod ordered the construction. could be easy to blame and want to retaliate. Jesus says this not about being revolutionary. Stop just thinking nationalist and thinking eternal. Repent.

Second, especially in our day and age, it seems he isn’t so careful with language to make sure to talk about victims or say we shouldn’t discuss. Not that he was heartless or rash by any means and his tone matches that of the conversation. But notice what he says, sinners. They dead were sinners. How could he say that! Well because all are! Instead he says don’t you try to say these people were worse off! Instead when we see these tragic events that are meant to be reminders of coming future judgment! Easy to look around and to others and stop looking inside! You can discern what is happening around you. In weather and in the news. Why can't you discern what is happening spiritually?

For the crowd, this again was an indictment for them of missing Jesus right there. But principles is true of us as well. We need to repent otherwise we will face judgment. Now he says repent of we likewise perish is not to say all were condemned or that they were being judged for sin. Nonetheless they did suffer the end of life of earth and that’s meant to say something to those left behind. Repent.

We ought to lament disaster. We grieve with those who grieve. we want comfort in disaster by knowing the WHY. Not just why but that it was justified from our vantage point. Instead, Jesus says tragedies meant to lead hearers to repentance. We need to see these as moments to wrestle with death and what comes after. Are we ready to stand before our maker? Jesus gives us a reminder that news points us to the birth pangs before he return. Like the question of v56 do you not know how to interpret the present time? BUT all heading towards disaster unless we repent.

A second warning, Don’t presume on His patience! He follows this up by talking about a parable of the fig tree in v6-9. This may be the emotional climax of the whole unit. The Master has been delayed. The servant needs to be faithful. The crowd needs to recognize the time. And then suddenly there's a fig tree that has had time, cultivation, and patience—but no fruit. Fig tree in vineyard was common as it helped hold up grape vine. But they take extra nutrients so if not producing them extra useless. Vinedresser intervenes. supplicates. Tree hugger says save that tree, one more year! Do we ever do this? “One more time Jesus I promise this is the last time!” Dung might be a humorous insult that instead of pruned and watered lets thrown dung at it. Nonetheless he is gracious.  Yet the request is a bit negative. Greek is not an if/then but if/if assuming not a positive outlook.

Figs show up a lot in OT to rep Israel. It seems the context is pointing to indictment of Israel in that time needing to repent. They did not but put Jesus to death. And judgement seems immediate as in AD70 they got cut down by Rome burning the temple. But let us not miss how this applies to us. you too need to bear fruit and have a finite amount of time before he returns. They ignored the warning, but will we listen and bear fruit?

Even if we do listen, how do we bear fruit? Notice the owner doesn’t say “TREE BEAR FRUIT.” Nor does the vinedresser command it. Fruit is something that is natural outgrowth of where you are rooted. So Jesus is saying “Just produce fruit already!” This is not a do more in your own strength message. Well how do we do bear fruit then? The text says it clearly…REPENT! That’s how fruit is born. And its not a matter of good year bad year keep on moving on. Its life or death for this tree and you and me! God's work: cultivate, transform, produce fruit. Our response: repent, turn to Christ, obediently let him have his way. The goal of God's patience isn't that we remain fruitless. His patience gives us time to repent, and as we turn to Christ, He produces the fruit He desires in us.

Don’t presume of the patience of God thinking fruit might appear. Don’t wait till your surrounded by manure with clocking winding down hoping for a last second score to bring you home. Instead see the mercy and grace and patience of God as the thing meant to bring you to your knees. Romans 1-2 speak to this. The context there, as we mentioned before, is that no one has an excuse. We have creation around us that testifies of God. a Conscience within us the judges right and wrong in others and in ourselves which testifies of a God who is standard of right and wrong. And as such Paul warns

Romans 2:4 “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?”

This message is repeated by the Apostle Peter. After sharing the need to remember and by way of reminder and reminding the people of God that hard times will come, Peter say we are meant to expect the day of judgement to come. It may seem a thousand years away, but a thousand years is one day with the Lord therefore.

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

In Whom Do You Trust?

Luke 12:13-34

Called to trust and seek God over self

Recognize the folly of trusting in self

Put off anxiety by trusting God

Put on trust in God by seeking his kingdom

Manuscript:

Good morning, church family! Welcome visitors + introduce self

If you were to pull our currency out of your wallet or purse and look at it, you would find the phrase “In God We Trust” inscribed upon it. In fact, I have a dollar bill and a coin with me today and though you can’t see it, this phrase is on each. I point this out to you because there is great irony that our passage for today has Jesus warning the people about putting their trust in things other than God. What makes this ironic is the context for this teaching comes from how you view and use money or possessions! The money that declares “In God We Trust” on it is often the very same thing we misuse to reveal that it is more accurate to say - “In Self We Trust”.

This is why I titled our sermon In Whom Do You Trust? Jesus’ teachings are going to reveal this is a very important question with an even more important answer. And, as we’re about to learn today, how you think about and use money or possessions reveals the true answer for your life.

As we pick back up in Luke 12, we are continuing to hear Jesus’ instructions to the crowds and his disciples. Remember that he is on his way to Jerusalem, where he knows what awaits him – rejection, arrest, and crucifixion. On this journey, Jesus is making the most of the time by rebuking the religious hypocrites, instructing the disciples in authentic faith, and calling the crowds to repent and believe in him before it is too late. Last week, we heard him prepare his disciples for perseverance in the face of the inevitable opposition and persecution that was coming their way. He assured them that God cares deeply for them and has authority infinitely greater than mere men, therefore they did not need to fear man. He also had promised that God would be with them in their suffering, providing the words to say to testify to the truth about Jesus.

Jesus does not want them to face opposition and persecution unprepared. He knows what is coming. In fact, in combination with what we’re going to learn about today, Jesus is addressing two of the primary hindrances to authentic faith that he warned about earlier in the parable of the soils in Luke 8 – trials and the pleasures and riches of this life. These are the hindrances that choked out soils #2 and #3. Jesus does not want his disciples to fall prey to either!

So, let’s read our text for today in Luke 12:13-34. We’re going to start with verses 13-21.

As Jesus is preparing his disciples for perseverance, someone from the crowd interjects! He wants Jesus to use his influence as a Rabbi (Teacher) to make his brother handle an inheritance in a specific way. This does not sit well with Jesus, and he refuses to get involved in this situation. But Jesus then uses this interruption as a teaching opportunity! He warns them to watch out or be on guard against greed. Life is more than having greater amounts of money or possessions!

This then leads to a parable. Jesus is known for using parables to teach surprising lessons. In this instance, he speaks of a rich man who has a bumper crop harvest. It seems to be an enviable situation – who wouldn’t want to have more resources than you know what to do with? Surely this man is blessed! Yet, as we heard, he now has a dilemma. His barns are too small. So, he asks himself, “What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?” There is a lot you can learn from listening to this man’s thinking and reasoning. Here it is again: “I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’”

What do you hear in this man’s inner-dialogue? “I, I, I, my, my, my…” He is entirely focused on himself. He isn’t thinking about God, nor is there any indication he has any concern for others. What he wants is to have a nice, easy life where he can spend his days doing what he wants. If we’re being honest, we can relate to this man, can’t we? Maybe we don’t ALWAYS think this way… but it is a regular temptation for nearly everyone. Who doesn’t daydream from time to time about what they would do if they suddenly won the lottery or came into a large inheritance? We live in a world that promotes hitting it big, looking out for #1 (self), and encourages you to acquire more so that you can live your best life now. Our culture promotes the message that if you just had _____, then you would be happy!

In fact, as I was preparing for this sermon, I came across a satirical work by Mark Twain called The Revised Catechism. It is a parody of the Westminster Catechism to critique the greed and corruption of America in his lifetime. Listen to just one piece of it:

This is parodying the first question of the Westminster which says “What is the chief end of man?

Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever.” Do you see/hear the difference?

The heart of man down through the ages has struggled with living for self, which inevitably takes the form of greed – the intense and selfish desire for wealth and possessions – so we can live out our days as we want, in comfort and ease. This is a common human struggle. To desire what we do not have. And to selfishly misuse what we do have rather than use it for the glory of God and good of others.

This was the undoing of King Solomon, who though commended for his desire for wisdom was led astray by the vast wealth he acquired and pleasures he pursued. It was the undoing of Demas, who deserted the Apostle Paul because he loved this present world more than Christ. It paved the path to Judas’ betrayal of Jesus, as we are told that he had charge of the disciple’s moneybag and used to help himself to what was put into it. Selfishness and greed go hand in hand, and they lead to terrible places.

Jesus drew a shocking conclusion to his parable in verses 20-21:

The rich man thought he was set for life! From his perspective, his greatest days were ahead of him. He thought he was calling the shots! Yet he could not have been more wrong… he could not see things from God’s perspective… God identifies him as a fool because he has not lived in light of eternity. His focus was on self rather than God. He trusted in his own plan rather than trusting God. His decision to hoard his wealth for selfish pursuits rather than to use it for the glory of God and good of others had eternal consequences!

This and the lessons that follow drive our emphasis for today. We are…

And the way we get to trusting and seeking God over self begins as we…

Recognize the folly of trusting in self

This is what is being driven home in verses 13-21. It is foolish to embrace greed/covetousness. It will not end well for you if your life is focused on self. If you ignorantly think that you are calling the shots. These are the behaviors and thinking of fools!

This man found his comfort and ease in his own provisions for himself but did not realize that God's judgment was looming. His self-focus clouded his view of eternal matters. And the outcome is judgment that will not go well for him. He had neglected God’s purpose for creating him and putting him on earth – to seek God, to know God, and to live for God. This man could have had a full life that used his prosperity to do much good to others for the glory of God, but instead he squandered his life in selfishness. He is an example of the 3rd soil, whose fruit was choked out by the cares and riches and pleasures of life.

Can you relate to this at all? How tempting it is to think that we are working for our own gain, our own comfort, our own security for the future! What drives your decisions when it comes to finances or job opportunities? Is it “what will position me to do more good to others for the glory of God?” or is it “what will give me the lifestyle I want? What will allow me to feel secure for my desired future?”

Jesus’ parable is needed in our day and age just as much as his! We are still prone to trust in self. To make plans for our future irrespective of what God may say or want from us. To hoard resources rather than to share them generously for the kingdom and glory of God.

You see the purpose of this parable is not to serve as a cry against wealth or having a “good year” that produces much. No, it is to cry against those who are self-centered and greedy in their handling of wealth. God has not put us on this earth to only care about self. We are made in his image, called to have dominion, and to use what he entrusts to us for the glory of His kingdom and the good of others. A life that is consumed by greed and self-focus fails to honor God. It is a perversion of his design for our lives. Jesus is going to give us more to consider on this in the coming verses.

But before we continue reading, let me circle back to the original interjection to make one more observation - living with a self-focus induces anxiety. “Tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” I want this. I need this. When your focus is on self you are dependent on self to provide. Hence the man doing what he can to try to get some of the inheritance. He is willing to turn against his own brother to get what he wants. Let’s hear about a God-given alternative in verses 22-31.

Notice he shifts his attention back to the disciples. Though the lesson began with the crowd, it is his disciples who receive the most directed teaching. He wants them to learn not to be anxious about their lives by learning to seek after and trust God. He gives them several arguments why they should forsake the anxiety of self-focused living for trusting God.

Let’s consider his arguments…

First, he reminds them that to fixate on physical provision is short-sighted because life is about much more than what you will eat or what you will wear. The moment you make what you have your focus; you have oriented your life away from the most important thing about you – your relationship with God! How many people do you know that are so busy, so consumed with obtaining more in this life – more money, a nicer home/car, a better career – that they have forsaken a relationship with God? The longer you think about it, the more people you are likely able to come up with. And, if you’re not careful to heed this lesson, it could be you! It is far too easy to be caught up in our consumeristic, materialistic culture. “Did you see the new iPhone that just came out? My laptop is too old and slow. Boy, having a new car would sure be nice. This home isn’t what I want, I wish it were bigger. These clothes are too old.” You get the idea. You can fill it in with what you’re tempted to rehearse to yourself. When we make life about what we own/possess rather than about our relationship with God, everything else in life is askew. It’s off. We’re not functioning the way we have been designed. And this disharmony with how we were made creates incredible anxiety in our lives. Where do you need to confess and forsake an unhealthy pursuit of physical provision?

Jesus’ second argument is an invitation to consider the ravens. This is one he’ll repeat two more times with an invitation to consider the lilies and the grass. By doing so, Jesus is inviting Christians to consider God’s provision for lesser parts of creation to realize how much more he will provide for humans who are made in God’s image! These lesser parts of creation do not worry or fear about whether they will have what they need. They simply carry out the purpose for which they were made and glorify God. Even though they are temporary in nature, God has provided for them. CONSIDER HOW MUCH MORE HE WILL CARE FOR YOU, WHO ARE MADE IN HIS IMAGE AND WILL LAST FOR ETERNITY! To doubt God’s care and provision for your life and live in anxiousness is evidence of deficient faith. This is not to say that you are not a Christian, but rather that, in those moments, you are lacking in faith. You are failing to trust God, who we heard last week has complete authority and is intent on doing good to you! You can trust him! Don’t get caught up in the trap of self-dependence. You were not made to be sufficient in and of yourself. You need God! And he will provide.

What would it look like for you to consider God’s provision for the birds, the flowers, or the grass this week and to take heart in God? Perhaps you need to go stand outside and just watch or listen for a bit. I find myself doing this quite often in my mornings throughout the week. And then take time to respond in prayer and worship. “Thank you, Lord, for creating all these and for creating me. Thank you for caring for the details of your creation. For providing for the least of these and for people like me. Help me to trust in you and to put off anxiety today!”

This prayer is in line with our second takeaway in being called to trust and seek God over self…

Put off anxiety by trusting God

Put off the noisiness of your soul, the fear that you’re giving yourself over to, by replacing it with active trust in God. For the very reasons Jesus has already laid out here, two of which we’ve reviewed. Let’s consider two more.

The third is found in verse 25-26, where Jesus poses a question. “And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?” What is the answer to that question? No one! He then explains, “If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?” Jesus is confronting us with the ineffectiveness of anxiety. It produces NOTHING. It is useless! So why worry? It will not produce anything. Your situation will not change because of worry. No one will be edified by your anxiety, including yourself. Are you willing to admit the ineffectiveness of anxiety? That it is a fruitless endeavor that is not worth your time or effort?

If so, then you are ready for the final reason Jesus gives for forsaking the anxiety of self-focused living for trusting God. It comes at the end of this section in verses 30-31.

God is deeply aware of your needs! Just as he knows the depth of our hearts, he knows our daily needs. In fact, he is more aware than we are of what we ACTUALLY need. And he is the GOOD Father who delights to provide what we need. Do you recall the Lord’s teaching on prayer back in Luke 11? “Give us each day our daily bread…” This is a request we can make to God because he knows what we need each day and he is ABLE to provide it. This is a prayer of faith and trust in God. It is forsaking trust in self for trust in God. You also need to remember what comes immediately before this request for our daily bread, “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.” We start by confessing God as our Heavenly Father and expressing our desire for his name to be revered and his rule and reign to be recognized!

This is the proper heart orientation of a disciple. One who perseveres to the end. One whose fruit is not choked out by the cares and pleasures of this life nor falls away in a time of testing. Jesus is preparing his people for what is coming. It was relevant then and it is still relevant today.

You WILL face many temptations in this life to be divided in your loyalty to King Jesus. Some may face persecution. Others may find themselves provided with much wealth/possessions. Both are opportunities to trust in God rather than self. What you do next will reveal whom you worship.

The better way is to put off anxiety by trusting God. Do not get caught up in the rat race of Western consumeristic culture. Do not believe the lie that if you just had more, you would be happy. Heed the warnings of King Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes:

Solomon had more than we could dream of, yet he confessed that it was vanity in comparison to living for God.

Heed the wise words of King David in Psalm 16:

True life, joy, and pleasure come from walking with God and living for him. There is a purposefulness that Jesus is commending to his disciples in this teaching. He has warned them of the folly of trusting in self, he has encouraged them to put off anxiety by trusting in God, and now we see his positive instruction on what to do next in verses 31-34.

Jesus’ positive instruction is to seek God’s kingdom. This is how we live out our faith and trust in God, by forsaking our kingdom for his. In essence, we are joining with Jesus in saying, “Not my will, but yours be done!”

So, our final takeaway in being called to trust and seek God over self is to…

Put on trust in God by seeking his kingdom

This is our active obedience. It is adopting the posture of, “I am going to pursue God’s desires. I want to align my life with what he wants. I want the world to know his rule and reign by living in obedience with his will.”

Adopting this posture of active obedience is only possible through faith in Jesus Christ. If you are realizing that you are the self-focused man/woman whose life needs to change, then I want to encourage you to trust in Jesus’ finished work. He died to rescue sinners like us from our selfishness. He rose again to conquer sin and death, so that we could be given new life and be able to live this godly, fulfilling life. If you find yourself stuck in anxiety, stuck in the rat race of Western society, stuck in discontentment and always wanting more… there is a better way! His name is Jesus Christ, and he stands ready to forgive and redeem. You can cry out to him in prayer, confess your need for him to forgive you, and ask him to help you trust him and seek his kingdom today!

And how wonderful that this is directly connected with putting off fear/anxiety! Once again Jesus speaks with a term of endearment – calling his disciples “little flock”. What a wonderful reminder that we are his sheep and he is our Good Shepherd. Not to mention that we have a Heavenly Father who delights to give us the kingdom! This is a wonderful reminder and promise from Jesus that God is FOR his people. He wants them to experience the joy of his rule and reign. When God’s will is done, then blessings and security overflow. This is experienced in this life in our salvation, our ongoing growth in holiness (sanctification), and the certainty of God’s provision of eternal life for us (glorification)! If God is willing to give us such incredible spiritual blessings, then how will he not also graciously provide us with our daily needs?! He will. And we have the privilege of learning to trust him each day for our breath, our heartbeat, and for the food we’re going to put on the table or the money to pay our bills.

In fact, Jesus gives additional teaching on how to seek God’s kingdom. In verses 33-34, he commands the disciples to stop focusing on self and begin caring for others. He does so by telling them to sell their possessions and give to the needy.

He is connecting generosity with the confidence that God is willing and able to provide. When you stop trusting in yourself and begin trusting in God, you are in a position to be generous towards others. You recognize that you were not put on earth simply to store up wealth for yourself and live a comfortable, easy life. Scrooge McDuck is not to be our role model. We want to be more like the Christians of the early church, who lived this out.

These Christians were sacrificial to meet the needs of others. Those who had more were willing to help those who had less, even at great cost to self. There is no indication that this was forced upon anyone, but that it was completely voluntary for the good of all. This same kind of mutual ministry was in effect later in the way the Gentile churches took up offerings to send to support the church in Jerusalem during their time of need. (Slide)

The principle at play here is that you forsake self-focus to care for others! Jesus doesn’t necessarily spell out how much to keep for self vs. to give for care of others. Nor does he specify who the others are. These are things we must wrestle out with the Scriptures and the Spirit in prayer. But take heed of the principle laid out in the second half of verse 33 and into 34. How we use the resources God has entrusted to us has eternal ramifications. (repeat)

Wise stewards realize that it is far better to please God by being generous in this life and thereby receiving God’s blessing in heaven. Jesus links our use of money with the orientation of our heart. You can either point your heart towards God by obeying him and being generous or point your heart towards self by living miserly.

As you go through life, have an intentional plan to use your resources in a way that blesses others. Micaela and I have found it beneficial to create line items in our budget that are for this purpose. You could have a special giving fund that you set aside money for each month, so that when a need arises, you’re ready to meet it. You could budget to sponsor a child through Compassion International or support a missionary or a non-profit that is doing good work. The point is to be intentional to use your resources to give and help others!

This is not a calling to be paupers. You will need resources to feed your family, put a home over their heads, clothes on their backs, etc., Obviously you will need resources to be generous! But this is a calling to forsake selfishness, to forsake poor financial management, and to put off anxiety over the cares and concerns of this world by trusting in the Lord. I hope that these callings have come through loud and clear from the text today. I am looking forward to how God works in our church family as we faithfully apply this to our lives.

May we be a church full of households who are seeking to do good to others. May we be humble enough to ask for help if we are struggling with financial management. May we learn how to budget and say NO to selfish purchases so that we can be generous. And I pray that will be true for all of us, both young and old. This is necessary for all ages. And parents/grandparents, you have the privilege and responsibility of modeling it for the next generation! Show them how much better God’s way is than the world’s way.

Now, before we close our services with celebrating baptism, I want to remind you of something rather timely and important! Starting next Sunday, our services begin 30 minutes earlier. (Slide) So you have an important decision to make. Will you show up for the 8:30 or 10:30 service?

Ironically, I realized this week that Pastor Jack will be preaching the next two weeks as I will be attending the ACBC annual conference. I promise that I didn’t change the service times earlier only to skip town and leave you to deal with it! I will actually be in attendance both Sundays, but he will be leading us in the study of God’s Word.

As I’ve mentioned, we have five individuals who are publicly professing their faith in Jesus Christ through believer’s baptism today. They want the world to know that they have turned from sin and are following Jesus. What a privilege it is to end our service with these baptisms.

Baptism is an act of obedience for all who follow Jesus Christ. In fact, Jesus’ last command to his disciples was to go and make disciples of all nations by baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and teaching them to observe all that Jesus taught.

As we see in Scripture, baptism is a public profession of a spiritual reality in a person’s life – namely that they have responded to Jesus Christ in faith for the forgiveness of their sins and that they desire to live for him. Baptism is not earning these folks any merit with God, but it is an act of obedience and worship. We have the privilege of witnessing this declaration, celebrating with these individuals, and partnering with them on the journey of a life of faithful service to Jesus.

In the Scriptures, we see that baptism is done after a person professes faith in Christ and it’s done by immersing them in water. The reason for this is that it symbolizes the person’s unity with Jesus’ own death, burial, and resurrection. Consider what Romans 6 teaches:

Going under the water symbolizes the person’s death to their sin (the old way of life) and coming back up again symbolizes their being raised from the dead to new life (following Christ).

If, after listening to these folks today, you realize that you do not have a testimony of faith like them, I would love to talk with you about that after the service. If you’re here and you’ve never taken the step of obedience to be baptized as a believer, then I would encourage you to email the church and let us know that you’d like to do so as soon as possible!

Here is the plan for our baptisms today:

There are 3 individuals being baptized at 9am and two more at the 11am service

Tori Pelzer

Benjamin Spracklin

Savannah Korodan

Aaron Williamson (11)

Megan Lees (11)

I’d like to invite Tori forward to share a brief testimony of her faith in Christ this morning.

Tori shares her testimony.

Baptize her.

Invite Benjamin forward to share his testimony.

Baptize him.

Invite Savannah forward to share her testimony.

Baptize her.

Let’s worship our King together!

Let’s pray.

Preparation for Perseverance

Luke 12:1-12

Replacing fear of man with faith in God

Realize that hypocrisy will be exposed one day

Consider the limited authority of men in comparison to the complete authority of God

Understand God's response to our faith in or rejection of him

Manuscript:

Good morning, church family! Introduce self + welcome guests

It is sweet to be back with you this morning, worshiping the Lord together! I am looking forward to diving back into our study of the Gospel of Luke this morning. Last week we left off after a very tense interaction between Jesus and the religious leaders. You may recall Jesus had been invited to a dinner party with the Pharisees and lawyers. And pretty quickly into the dinner, Jesus began confronting them on their religious hypocrisy! He pronounced woes on both groups for all the ways they had been leading the nation astray. And when Jesus had finished what he wanted to say, he left the meal, but the religious leaders followed him out of the home and began pressing him hard to try to trap him in his words! What a dinner party! This conflict between Jesus and the religious leaders will only escalate from here.

Why is this happening? Because the religious leaders failed to lead the people to God. Now the Son of God is confronting them and giving all who hear an opportunity to take note and repent before it is too late. Jesus has come to make a way of salvation for the people, and he is providing bold teaching to help them understand what is at stake. It will not do to take a lax approach to our faith. We cannot simply go through “the religious motions” of faith nor count on adherence to rules and traditions to save us. Jesus is lovingly ripping away the very things people are tempted to trust in for salvation, because he knows that there is only ONE way of salvation – faith in him.

Today, as we pick back up in Luke 12, we are going to hear Jesus continue to address the foolishness of fake faith or religious hypocrisy. God will not be fooled. He knows our heart. He knows what we truly believe.

Yet Jesus is no longer at dinner with the religious leaders. He is returning to teaching the crowds and his disciples. In this next section of Luke, he is preparing his disciples for what is coming. He wants them to be able to endure and persevere in their faith. Today we have the privilege of hearing Jesus’ instructions to his disciples on how they can fear God instead of man and thereby stand firm in the faith.

Let’s read Luke 12:1-12.

Jesus speaks plainly to his disciples. His goal is to prepare them for the persecution that is coming, so that they may persevere in their faith and glorify God. Throughout this teaching today, there is a theme of…

This is what we are going to focus on. And who doesn’t struggle with fear of man at some point in their life? Why is it so tempting to care more about what people think of us than to be bold in our faith and testify about all that Jesus has done? Wouldn’t it be great to have more confidence and boldness in sharing the beauty of who Christ is and what he has done?

I am certain that I am not alone in this struggle. Clearly it was an issue for the disciples in Jesus’ day, and I am certain it remains an issue in ours as well. So, let’s benefit from Jesus’ instruction as we seek to replace fear of man with faith in God!

It starts with the instruction of Jesus found in verses 1-3. This is where he warns the disciples of “the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” When Jesus speaks about leaven, he is using a term that would have been very relatable in their day but may be a bit obscure in ours. He is speaking of yeast that causes bread to rise in preparation for baking. He is using this as an analogy for how the Pharisee’s hypocritical teaching and example is influencing people in a negative way. It is spreading throughout their society and causing tremendous damage! The disciples of Christ need to be aware of this and avoid it, lest they too be led astray.

But then Jesus goes further than simply warning them about this “hypocritical leaven”. In verses 2-3 he provides another incredible warning.

Here you have Jesus, the Son of God, promising that all will be made known one day. There are no secrets with God. The things that men and women believe are concealed, that no one else knows about… the words said while in hiding or whispered so others might not hear… will be declared in the light and proclaimed on the housetops one day! These are words of warning that religious hypocrisy and sin will not remain a secret. Which brings us to our first takeaway in replacing fear of man with faith in God…

Realize that hypocrisy will be exposed one day

This teaching from Jesus is not only a warning for those who engage in such wicked ways, but also an encouragement for faithful followers of Christ who are persecuted by such wickedness. Let’s start with the warning and then consider the encouragement.

Jesus’ teaching on these matters ought to strike a holy fear into everyone! You are fooling yourself if you think that you can sin in your speech or actions behind closed doors, and no one knows. God sees and hears all! What a terrifying reality.

Who here would claim to always say what is right and pleasing to God? No one, I hope. How does knowing that God sees and hears all that you say/do, even in private, challenge you to change?

I hope it will drive each of us to confess and seek forgiveness from our Savior. This is the first and most necessary response. Authentic faith turns from sin. But it doesn’t stop there. If we truly grasp what is being taught here, we ought to be challenged to pursue pure and holy conduct and speech! If God hears and sees all that I say and do, then I want what he hears and sees to be honorable and glorify him. I do not want to dishonor my God or invite his opposition into my life. Do you?

Jesus’ teachings invite us to turn from sinful speech and actions. We must not believe the lie that they remain secret or hidden from God. Instead, we must allow the light of God’s presence and knowledge to lead us to pure speech and actions.

How might your speech/actions need to change this week? Perhaps it is in your household - that is often where we are most comfortable with sinning. Adults, do you need to ask forgiveness from your spouse or children for the sinful way you’ve been speaking to or treating them? Kids/Students, do you need to ask forgiveness from your parents or siblings for the sinful way you’ve been speaking to or treating them? For some it might not be your home, but your workplace (or school). Do you need to turn away from office gossip and slander of your bosses or co-workers (your peers)? Perhaps you need to change your speech/actions when it comes to church. Maybe you are here putting on a show, but out there you’re living a completely different life. If that is you, it’s time to come into the light and ask for help!

Allow the warning of Jesus towards the religious hypocrites of his day to bear fruit in your life today! Through faith and obedience to Jesus, you can begin to put off ungodly words and actions this very week and replace them with speech and actions that glorify God.

Now let’s look at the encouragement that comes from this teaching. Remember that Jesus is speaking to his disciples. He is reminding them that those who oppose them will be exposed one day. The sinful behavior of these leaders is not hidden from God. This is an encouragement because, when you understand it, it robs hypocritical people/leaders of their "power" over you. The disciples did not have to fear the Pharisees or lawyers anymore! Even though they wielded considerable cultural power and influence, they were nothing in comparison to God. And God would hold these religious hypocrites accountable for their words and actions! Jesus is providing freedom from the fear of man.

Which is still quite applicable in our day and age. Christians still face opposition around the world. Much of our world hates Christ and those who follow him. In some places that takes the form of mocking Christians for their faith or the ways they live. In other places it takes the form of arresting and beating them and demanding that they recant their faith. This is quite the spectrum of opposition, yet in all of it, Jesus’ words can bring great hope. Those who oppose Christ and his people will not succeed in the end. God will vindicate his people who faithfully follow him. He will expose those who have opposed him and his people, even those who think they’ve done so in secret. Christians can rest in God’s sovereignty and righteousness, even as they face opposition in this life. In fact, this ties quite well into what Jesus says next in verses 4-7. Let’s hear it again.

Jesus addresses his disciples with a term of familiarity and love. “My friends” – how incredible to hear that from your Savior! What does he say to his friends? He instructs them on whom to fear and whom not to fear. And he explains why they ought to think and live this way.

Do NOT fear those who kill the body… but have no more authority beyond that. Why? Because there is One who is greater than them whom you ought to fear!

Fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. He is speaking, of course, of God. God alone has the authority to judge men/women. And, in comparison to God, these mere men who might seek to end your life, are nothing. This reoriented perspective is essential for Christians to live by faith in God rather than in fear of man. No matter how much opposition you might face from men for your faith, they are nothing in comparison to God. And it certainly is not worth it to live for the approval of man, only to be condemned by God.

Even as he says this, Jesus tempers this teaching on God’s authority with a wonderful reminder of his love and care for them. He reminds them that just as God cares for the sparrows, who are relatively insignificant, he cares MUCH more for the disciples who are image-bearers of God. Jesus’ purpose in this teaching is not to scare them but to encourage them! They are greatly loved by the eternal and sovereign God.

Here is the takeaway for us in replacing fear of man with faith in God…

Consider the limited authority of men in comparison to the complete authority of God

Even though mere men may seek to do awful things to Christians in this life, they are not to be feared over God. God is the One with all power and authority, who can bring us safely home to heaven. Our proper fear is of the God who is eternal and sovereign yet deeply loves us.

He wants them (and us) to trust God deeply. To be willing to face the inevitable opposition and persecution of men, even unto death. He is keenly aware of the direction things are heading for his own life and those who follow him. No one can accuse Jesus of sugar-coating what it means to be his disciple. He is quite forthright that you will suffer and be persecuted for his name’s sake.

This teaching is a reminder to beware the temptation to fear man and thereby hide your faith. It would be very tempting, as we will see later with Peter, to fear man and deny that you follow Jesus. Jesus is seeking to protect his disciples from living a double life, where they might profess faith in him when it costs them nothing but then hide their faith when they would face opposition! This is not authentic faith at all.

Do not fear the limited authority of your fellow man. Their power is constrained. They cannot keep you from God. They cannot condemn you to hell. They are nothing in comparison to God. So, forsake the fear of man for the fear of God.

Fear the one who has complete authority. And not in sense of “be terrified” of him but rather have a deep reverence and awe of him that leads you to worship and live for him. Unless you are not a Christian, then you should be terrified, because he will righteously judge you for your unrepentant sin and rebellion against him. But that terror can be replaced with trust if you confess your sin and ask Jesus to forgive you and help you to follow him. He delights to do so! We’ve heard about this before in…

Deal honestly with your sin before God and he will deal graciously with you!

If you are a Christian, then your fear of God should lead you to a place of deep reverence and trust in him. He loves you and deeply values you. He is at work in your life for your good and his glory. Even when you are not sure how he is working, he is at work! Even through the darkest and deepest valleys, he is conforming you to the image of his Son. We heard some of these wonderful promises over the summer in Romans 8.

The answers, of course, is that no one can successfully be against us and he will graciously give us all things – in Christ. Those who are God’s beloved can have great confidence in life and in our faith. Our temptation to fear men is diminished when our eyes and heart are full of God. Cultivating a healthy faith in and fear of God, not man.

If you are struggling with fear of man, I want to encourage you to reflect on the truths that we are learning today throughout the coming week.

Realize that hypocrisy will be exposed one day

Consider the limited authority of men in comparison to the complete authority of God

Remember that God’s complete authority is being expressed towards you, Christian, in the form of his deep love that is conforming you to Christlikeness. What he began in you he will complete! And no one will get in his way.

Allow these realities to cause you to rejoice as you boldly represent him in your spheres of influence. May fear of man no longer rule in your heart but be replaced by a faith in God that boldly and unashamedly worships him.

Let’s review verses 8-12 to see how public worship of Christ is so important:

Jesus is very concerned for his disciples’ perseverance in the faith! He lays out for them the importance of publicly acknowledging or confessing faith in Christ before others. Those who are unashamed of Jesus and proclaim their faith in him before men will find that Jesus will acknowledge or confess his allegiance to them before the heavenly host. But those who deny Jesus before men will be denied by Christ! These are high stakes indeed.

When I read this, I couldn’t help but think of those who are pursuing believer’s baptism next Sunday! We are going to have the joy of celebrating with multiple individuals in our church who are publicly confessing their faith in Jesus Christ. They are living out the principles taught in this passage. Praise God for that! I hope you’ll be here to celebrate with us.

Here is the final takeaway in replacing fear of man with faith in God…

Understand God's response to our faith in or rejection of him

Remember that Jesus had just come from the dinner with the religious leaders who were guilty of rejecting him. They were in the category of denying Christ before men and they have no confidence that he will acknowledge them on Judgment Day. This teaching guards his disciples against the same outcome.

He wants them to understand what is at stake in how we conduct ourselves in this life. It will not do to hide our faith in Christ. What kind of faith is kept hidden as if we were ashamed of our Savior and Lord? … Those who truly love the Lord and follow him will boldly proclaim that before everyone, EVEN IF it is in the context of being drug before religious or political leaders to be put on trial!

Did you notice that Jesus did not say “if” but “when” they bring you before such leaders? It was not merely a possibility but a certainty! To follow Christ is to elicit opposition. He is preparing them for the inevitable - they will be persecuted and forced to testify about Jesus. But they will not do so alone. God will be with them in their suffering. He will provide the words to say in those moments. Their job was to be ready and trust God to provide. Which is only possible when you have faith in God that overcomes fear of man!

While this was spoken directly to his 1st century disciples who were in a very challenging context, this does not remove the application for us today. Jesus’ teaching reminds us that we are not promised a life free from trials or suffering. On the contrary, we should expect them… because the world is opposed to God! Yet in these trials, God is with us. When you suffer for Christ’s sake, God will provide you with the strength and boldness to witness for him!

This has been true for many Christians down through the ages. Many of them were martyrs – meaning they gave their life for Christ. Those in power killed them because they would not recant their public testimony of Jesus Christ as the way, the truth, and the life. If you’d like to be challenged and encouraged by these testimonies, here are some ways to learn more about them:

Foxe’s Book of Martyrs

Public domain – easy to find

Christian Heroes Then and Now

Great book set (50+books)

The Torchlighters

Animated videos telling the stories of real-life heroes of the Christian faith

Available for free on YouTube and many other streaming platforms

I Am N

Documentary by Voice of the Martyrs about radical Muslims persecuting Christians

Evangelical Heroes | Reformation Heroes | Puritan Heroes

Books on different eras of Church History

There has never been a period of church history free from opposition. It has always been necessary to be prepared to stand for Jesus. The Apostle Peter, who struggled with fear of man at Christ’s arrest and denied him three times only to be forgiven and restored by Christ later, would write this to the 1st century Christians:

How incredible that Peter, of all people, would write this encouragement to boldly proclaim your faith in Christ, even if it brings suffering into your life! He knew firsthand the temptation to fear man and deny Christ. Praise God that Jesus had taught him ahead of time that it was possible to be forgiven! Peter got to experience his Savior’s forgiveness and that transformed him into a bold witness for the rest of his life.

Are you ready and willing to face opposition for the sake of telling others about Christ? Your answer is revealed by your willingness to share the gospel with your unbelieving friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, etc., I say that and I am speaking to myself as much as anyone else. It is too easy to fear man and keep quiet. To care more about how your family member or friend will respond or think about you than to care about honoring and glorifying Christ or care about that person’s soul and where they will spend eternity! We must die to this fearful, sinful way of thinking and living. And that starts by asking Jesus for forgiveness and help!

Are you thankful that Jesus stands ready to forgive? If you know that you’ve lived a life that has not pleased Christ… a life where you have been ashamed of him or outright denied him… there is still an offer of forgiveness available to you! It is not too late to confess your sin against the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and ask his forgiveness. As we heard earlier, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness. If you have stood opposed or ashamed of Jesus, then I would encourage you to avail yourself of his forgiveness today, right now. You can pray and deal with this in your seat this morning. *pause*

I love that we have such a gracious and forgiving God! How incredible is our God in comparison to the capricious, works-based so-called gods of other religions? Our God is infinitely better and worthy of our faith and worship!

Which is why Jesus says it is so egregious and unforgiveable to “blaspheme the Holy Spirit” in verse 10. This is to be understood as rejecting the clear revelation of God the Holy Spirit about the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. We saw the Pharisees doing this in a previous chapter when they attributed the power of God on display as the work of Satan. This is speaking of a hard-hearted response to the convicting work of God. This happens in the lives of those who have had plenty of evidence for the saving work of God, yet they refuse to believe. They continue in their willful suppression of the truth, even making up other reasons for what they have witnessed. They refuse to believe the truth of God. This, Jesus says, will not be forgiven. It is a rejection of faith that leads to judgment.

The disciples need to understand the danger that comes from this posture of hard-heartedness. Unfortunately, one of them, Judas Iscariot, did not take this lesson to heart. He continued to walk alongside Jesus, observe the many miracles he performed, hear the truth he taught, and yet did not believe. His heart grew increasingly hardened leading him to the point where he gave himself over to Satan and betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. And this path ended in his own death and condemnation. What a sad and miserable ending that I hope we would wish on no man/woman.

Far better that we be people who are bold in our witness and publicly sharing the gospel with any who would hear, no matter the cost for us. This is the path that leads to eternal life. As we confess Jesus, he confesses us in the presence of the heavenly host. “That one, she is mine. Look at her faith. See how she is unashamed of me.”

I hope that this teaching from Luke 12 has helped you to recognize that faith in God is so much better than fear of man. The outcome of each path is completely different. Fear of man leads to our rejection of God and his rejection of us. Faith in God leads to our bold witness that glorifies God, ministers to others, and culminates in eternal life. This kind of faithful living is fostered as we…

Realize that hypocrisy will be exposed one day

Consider the limited authority of men in comparison to the complete authority of God

Understand God's response to our faith in or rejection of him

Let’s pray. Pray

Confrontation and Correction Pt II

Luke 11:37-54

Learning from Jesus' rebukes of religious hypocrites

External cleanness without internal purity is folly

Partial obedience while neglecting God’s primary commands is disobedience

Self-serving religion is proud and wicked

Hypocritical faith can lead others astray

Leaders who crush people with extra rules and regulations are ungodly

God holds hypocrites accountable for their actions

Ungodly leaders hinder rather than help faith

Manuscript:

 

Confrontation and Correction

Luke 11:14-36

Receiving pointed instruction for our eternal good

Recognize the source of Jesus' authority and follow him

Beware of the danger of deliverance without authentic faith

Understand true blessedness is in hearing and obeying God's Word

Heed the greater revelation of Jesus before it is too late

Pay attention to your response to Jesus

Manuscript:

Good morning, church family! Welcome guests + introduce self

As you turn to Luke 11, I want to share with you an important change coming to our church in October. It was already mentioned in the announcement video earlier, but we are going to move our Sunday morning services earlier by 30 minutes to 8:30am and 10:30am. This is something the pastor team and church staff have been discussing for months now to help spread out attendance between the two services. I apologize that you are only now hearing about it. I should have made sure we were talking about this earlier in the calendar!

Here’s why we are doing this. We want to make the second service, which is historically our lower attended service, a more viable option for more of our congregation. As we aim to make the most of our current facility, it will be helpful to balance out our services so there is room for new guests. There are some Sundays where the 9am feels very full!

We will be updating our website, outdoor signage, and print materials to reflect these changes over the course of September. October 4th will be the first Sunday these new service times are in effect. For the rest of this month, it will still be 9 + 11am.

Let’s turn our attention now to the reason we are here – the worship of God through the study of His Word! As we pick back up in Luke 11, remember that Jesus is heading to Jerusalem. And as he travels, he continues to provide instructions for those with ears to hear and rebukes for those who are hard-hearted. He is training his disciples to faithfully follow him, and he is giving everyone else an opportunity to repent before it is too late.

By this point in his ministry, Jesus has already performed many miracles, but he isn’t done yet. Once again, we will see his authority on display which becomes an opportunity for the hearts of the crowd to be revealed and for Jesus to confront and correct them. Let’s read now in Luke 11.

Jesus’ interactions with the crowds in this portion of his life and ministry are tense. Rather than responding in faith, some are beginning to accuse Jesus of being allied with Satan and others are trying to test him by demanding miraculous signs according to their whims. These are serious accusations and foolish ways to respond to the Son of God, the Savior of the world. In what follows, Jesus reveals that he knows their thoughts (which is a miracle!) and corrects their illogical argument. He concludes with a very pointed confrontation – if you are not for him, you are against him.

This section and what follows are united by the theme of evaluating your response to Jesus. As we study them today, I want to encourage you in…

Last week, we benefited from Jesus’ teaching on prayer. This week, we benefit from receiving his confrontation and correction where needed for our eternal good. In this first section of Scripture, Jesus is telling the people that a decision must be made. They and we must evaluate and answer - Who is Jesus and where does his power come from?

Some in the crowd were asserting that Jesus’ power over demons was given to him by Satan, who they called Beelzebul, the prince of demons. Jesus cannot let this accusation stand. This is a ridiculous, illogical argument. A kingdom cannot work against itself and be successful. It makes no sense to claim that Satan would work against himself in this way. Furthermore, their own priests were known to cast out demons, so are they going to claim that their power is from Satan as well? Of course not! They would say that God is the one who has authority to drive out demons. Which is the same with Jesus. His authority is from God. And that is why they need to pay attention to his ministry and message! The kingdom of God is upon them in ways they’ve never witnessed or experienced before.

I just love the imagery that Jesus uses of himself as the stronger man who has come to attack and overcome Satan, plundering his armor and his house. This is exactly what Jesus accomplished when he defeated Satan in the wilderness at the beginning of his ministry. We read about this back in Luke 4. From the very start of his ministry, Jesus is victorious over our greatest foe! Jesus is confronting the lies these people are believing about him and challenging them to…

Recognize the source of Jesus' authority and follow him

The truth is that Jesus’ authority is from God because he has been sent by God and opposes Satan. This is the logical conclusion from his teachings and the mighty miracles that Jesus repeatedly does. He has demonstrated authority over the spiritual and physical realms. It is imperative for us to recognize the true source of his authority and then respond rightly – by following him in faith!

Let’s make this personal. Who do you say Jesus is? And where does his power come from?

And before you answer, be careful about making illogical arguments or propagating lies. As we’ll hear in the next chapter, Jesus warns against accrediting the miracles from God the Holy Spirit to Satan.

It is a serious matter to speak against God in any manner, but it is especially evil to observe what is clearly the work of the Holy Spirit and say, “Satan did that!”

Jesus’ confrontational conclusion in Luke 11:23 is “whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” There is no neutrality when it comes to your response to Jesus. If you are not with Jesus, you are against him. There is no such thing as a neutral response. You are either following him and joining in the work of calling people to repentance and faith, or you are opposing him and leading people further from him.

We live in a world that loves ambiguity and to ride the fence about the objective truth claims of Christ. “I believe in Jesus, but I also believe in Buddha and Mohammed and Krishna… There are many ways to God. All religions lead to the same place…” You’ve likely heard these kinds of comments if you spend time talking about faith with people. But Christ confronts such illogical thinking! He won’t allow us to live in the ambiguity of religious pluralism. There was plenty of that in his day too. This is a binary decision. Are you with Christ or against him? And to be with him is to believe in Him as Savior and Lord and to joyfully follow him all your days. If you do not confess Jesus as Savior and Lord and seek to joyfully follow him in your daily life, then you should not assume you are with Christ. If that describes you, please understand that it is loving for Christ to expose this through this text. What is eternally good for you is to be confronted with Jesus’ identity and power. Your greatest need is for faith in Jesus! Believe in him! Follow him!

Please realize there is incredible danger in playing around with the things of God yet not submitting your life to him. Jesus is about to warn of the dangers of having your life impacted by God only to fail to believe in him. Listen to what he says next:

Do you hear the warning implicit in this teaching? If you receive the benefits and blessings of God in your life, yet fail to believe and be filled by God, then you are vulnerable to even greater spiritual ruin. Jesus is speaking to those who have experienced the blessing of being delivered from demonic hostility or possession yet failed to believe in God and follow him in faith. Such people have experienced a great blessing in being freed from spiritual tyranny, perhaps have even gone on to great moral reformation, yet, in the long run, end up in a worse condition!

Please receive this second pointed instruction for your eternal good today…

The situation Jesus is describing is not unique to 1st century life. There are plenty of people in our day and age who have cried out to God for help in time of need and experienced incredible deliverance or reformation of character. Perhaps helping them to overcome addiction or escape some sort of demonic influence, yet even though their life improves dramatically for a period of time, they never actually believe in and submit to God in faith.

The result is that they are not indwelt by the Holy Spirit. They do not have God’s Spirit living in them, protecting them from the ongoing attacks of the enemy. And, as Jesus points out, this is an incredibly dangerous position to be in. The inevitable outcome will be falling into greater ruin when the spiritual warfare resumes.

Now, this teaching may make many 21st century folks very uncomfortable. We like to pretend that only the physical realm matters. But that is simply not true. We are composed of both body and soul. Jesus assumes our understanding of such things. There is a physical and spiritual realm, and both are important. We must not discount either or fail to understand what is happening in either. There are real spiritual enemies, Satan and his demons, who are seeking to lead astray and destroy as many people as possible. They delight to cause havoc for image-bearers of God. They want to see God’s glory diminished in as many people as possible by leading them away from God.

The Apostle John speaks to this same issue in his first epistle:

The Apostle John warns that false teachers are led by demonic spirits. They deny Jesus Christ. And they are in this world all over the place. You don’t have to look hard to find them. Every other world religion is full of them - denying Jesus as the Son of God, the way, the truth, and the life. The new age practices and spiritual mysticism that is so popular in our day is filled with false teachers led by demonic spirits.

But for those who have faith in Christ, they are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. This is what John is speaking about when he says, “for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” When Jesus ascended to heaven after his D/B/R, he sent God the Holy Spirit to live in every believer, to protect them, to convict them of sin, and to help them know and obey God’s Word. This is how Christians are radically changed! God is at work in us to produce a changed and changing life. And we have incredible hope that we are protected from the attacks of the enemy. If this is true for you, give thanks to God for his provision and protection!

But if you’ve only been around the things of God… you’ve attended church, you’ve been blessed by the fellowship, you’ve experienced increased joy as you hear the Word taught and join the church in prayer, perhaps you’ve even been delivered from a particular sin struggle you previously had, but you have not confessed your sins and asked Jesus to forgive you and be your Lord and Savior… then you are in danger! Do not settle for moral reformation or deliverance without authentic faith. Listen to Jesus’ warning here and trust in him today!

Now, to continue with the narrative, it seems the crowd in Jesus’ day may have felt the tension just as we do this morning… because what happens next is a woman interjects with this outburst:

What an interjection! It may seem odd to us, but it was a way for this lady to show honor to the mother of Jesus and affirm honor to him as a teacher. But did you notice how Jesus responded? He shifted the focus by pointing out that true blessedness comes from hearing the word of God and keeping it!

What seems to us a random comment turns out to be an important teaching moment. Jesus wants the people to understand how to receive true blessing – hear and obey God’s Word! This is what God honors. This is the path that leads to the good life. Those who hear and obey God’s Word will be those who, one day, hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your master.”

Jesus is consistent in this teaching. Back in Luke 6, he had rebuked the people for calling him, “Lord, Lord”, yet not doing what he told them. He used the parable of two builders, one who dug down deep and built their house on the rock – signifying those who hear and obey God’s Word – and another builder who built his house on the ground without a foundation – signifying those who heard but did not obey… The results could not have been more different. The one who heard and obeyed stood firm in the faith when the floods of life came, but the one who merely heard but did not obey experienced total ruin…

Here is the pointed instruction to receive for our eternal good…

Jesus intentionally says, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it” using present active participles for hear/keep. This means they are both ongoing actions that continue into the future. Keep hearing and keep obeying. As you walk in these ways, you will experience the blessing of God.

This teaching has a striking resemblance to Psalm 1 in the Old Testament. Listen to this:

I love the consistency of the Word of God from Old to New Testament! God has not kept hidden from us the way to the good life. It is by hearing and obeying His Word.

If you’re not sure how to start, we have an annual Bible reading plan that you could jump in on. Or you could simply pick a book of the Bible, like the Gospel of Luke, and begin reading it day by day. Those who have been around Harvest for some time know that I am fond of recommending 4 questions to ask yourself as you study God’s word:

What does this teach me about God?

What does this teach me about humanity/myself?

How do I need to change because of what I’ve read?

How can I give thanks because of what I’ve read?

These aren’t the only ways to interact with the Word, but they are a way to do so. And I guarantee you that if you ask and answer these questions in faith, you will grow.

What evidence would you point to from this past week that you are actively engaged in hearing and obeying God’s Word? Do you believe that Jesus is telling the truth here? Then take him at his word and protect/prioritize time to hear and obey. Do not dishonor God and deny yourself blessing by neglecting obedience in these areas.

If you are actively seeking to hear and obey, then praise God for that! This is evidence of his grace at work in you. Do not grow weary in doing good. Perhaps a good takeaway for you is to remain humble and give the glory to God by sharing with others what he has been teaching you or how he is changing you. May our lives be bright testimonies for the glory of God, not the glory of self! How sweet it would be to spend our time in small group this week testifying to God’s grace in our lives!

Let’s keep reading to see what happens next:

The crowds are growing, but Jesus’ confrontation is not over! He isn’t interested in attracting large groups of people, but in faith that leads to repentance. Jesus rebukes them for seeking additional signs, treating him like some kind of magic genie for their entertainment. He tells them that the sign they will be given is the sign of Jonah and then connects Jonah’s ministry to the Ninevites to his ministry as the Son of Man to them.

If you’re not familiar with the Old Testament prophet Jonah, he was sent by God to the Assyrians, the ancient enemy of Israel, to proclaim a call to repentance before it was too late. Jonah did not want to obey God and ran from this calling, taking a boat heading in the opposite direction. However, God would not allow him to run, so he caused a big storm to overtake the boat, resulting in Jonah willingly being thrown overboard to save the rest of the crew. By God’s grace, he appointed a large fish to swallow Jonah and keep him alive for 3 days before spitting him back out onto dry ground. It’s an incredible story that Jesus affirms as true by citing it during his life and ministry. When Jonah made it to Ninevah, his call to repentance was met with receptive hearts/ears. They heard and believed and were spared.

Now Jesus is saying that his ministry serves a similar purpose. He has come to call the people to repentance. They ought to hear and respond in faith before it’s too late. Jesus is also foreshadowing his death, burial, and resurrection, as he will stay 3 days in the tomb before rising again. If they will not hear and repent and believe, then they will be condemned by those who came before them and believed with far lesser revelation available to them! Jesus is the greater revelation and they/we must…

Jesus bluntly calls them evil for demanding additional signs when he had already come and revealed his authority in incredible ways. He was living proof of the plan of God. He demonstrated his power and authority over creation, sin, sickness, death, and the Law many times. And not in small, obscure settings. He did these things in the public eye, in front of hundreds and thousands of people!

Their demands for more signs are blatant and wicked unbelief. If they do not repent and believe, they will receive judgment because they have more evidence than pagans from the past (Queen of the South; Ninevites) yet refuse to repent. These words of warning are necessary for people in every age. We must not think that we are in a position to demand more from Jesus. We are not the ones in authority, he is! Demanding things from God when he has already sent His Son is the height of folly and rebellion. It only serves to reveal our wicked hearts rather than to justify us in our unbelief.

If you are here and you continue to hold Jesus at arm’s length, demanding more evidence of him… then realize this is speaking to you. You are part of the evil generation who is dead in unbelief. You are in danger of judgment if you do not repent before it is too late.

Jesus’ confrontation and correction in these passages may be hard to hear, but they are for our eternal good. The reality is that judgment is coming. When Jesus returns and ushers in the end of all things, he will return as the Righteous Judge.

Listen to this incredible account from the vision of the Apostle John:

At his first coming, Jesus was meek and mild as he patiently called people to turn from sin and follow him. Yet he also faithfully warned of what is coming if we persist in rebellion. When he comes again, he will judge the living and the dead as the Righteous King of Kings and Lord of Lords. None who oppose him will stand before him. And this will be the outcome:

Those who refuse to repent and believe will be rightly judged for their rebellion. This is the outcome that Jesus warned about at his first coming – which the people of his day and ours must heed.

And please realize the alternative is glorious! For those who turn from sin and follow Christ, there is the hope of eternal life in glory with God. Listen to this beautiful vision:

What a glorious hope! Once again, God will dwell with us and we with him. Like the Garden of Eden but without the possibility of sin ruining it. This is the hope for all who trust in and follow him.

So, receive Jesus’ confrontation and correction. If your faith is not in Jesus, heed the greater revelation available in him and believe! If you have questions or objections, let’s meet and talk through those. I promise you there are compelling answers.

If your faith is in Jesus, then look forward to what is ahead. And allow that hope of future glory to inform the way you live for Christ here and now. Share this greater revelation of Jesus with your family, friends, coworkers, neighbors… because they need to hear the same call to repent and believe!

Let’s turn our attention to the last teaching in this section:

Jesus’ final instruction for our eternal good is a call to…

This teaching is connected to what has come before it as Jesus rebuked the unbelief of the crowds. The revelation of God is publicly apparent in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ! He is the lamp put on a stand so that all may see the light. The works of God have not been done in isolation or secret.

But the response of the people is their responsibility. They are either going to set their eyes on the light and thereby radiate the light, or they are going to have a “bad” or “evil” eye that rejects the light and focuses instead on darkness/wickedness and thereby live wickedly. The call is to be careful or to pay attention to where your focus is!

The theme of your response to Jesus is woven throughout the teaching in this section of Scripture. Your response matters.

The proper response to Jesus is to keep your eyes on him. Take in the light. Allow the light to transform your life and radiate light to others. This is what Jesus does for every Christian through the power of the Holy Spirit.

On the other side is the promise that if you set your eyes on other things, your whole life will be full of darkness. Choosing to remain in rebellion against your Creator will not end well for you. It will not lead to the good life here and now. The promises of this rebellious world and the enemy behind it are lies intended to deceive you. And I am willing to bet that every single Christian here today would be willing to share how we used to believe those lies. But God rescued and redeemed us. By God’s grace, we have beheld the light of Christ and believed. And nothing is the same. There is only the hope of a changed and changing life ahead of us. And it is our greatest delight to be increasingly conformed to Christ and to be radiating his glorious light to the world around us.

Hopefully that is what you experience when you interact with Christians here (or anywhere for that matter). There is no hiding the light! It ought to show up in the way we speak, in the ways we handle conflict, in the ways we serve others and share the hope that we have. As we each keep our eyes on Jesus and seek to hear and obey his Word, there will be a lot of light shining in our lives. And to God be the glory.

If you are a Christian and you realize that you’ve been struggling to focus on Christ. Perhaps your life has a lot of darkness in it right now… please seek help. Do not stay stuck in darkness. Ask your small group for help. Let our pastor team walk with you and protect you. Sign up for our free biblical counseling ministry to get practical instruction on how to grow and change to glorify God. But whatever you do, do not stay focused on darkness!

Let’s pray.